Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact

Mohab Elmarakbi; Ahmed Elmasry; Yongqing Fu; Ahmed Elmarakbi

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-88974-5_77

Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact

Mohab Elmarakbi^*, Ahmed Elmasry, Yongqing Fu, Ahmed Elmarakbi

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Engineering Physics and Mathematics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

The automotive industry’s pursuit of lightweight components presents a challenge in balancing weight reduction and structural integrity. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) offer a promising solution, capable of altering their properties when triggered, enhancing the crashworthiness of front-end vehicle components such as bumper beams and crash boxes. This research integrates SMA elements into carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), forming an advanced composite material. To validate this approach, crashworthiness testing will use finite element analysis (FEA) software like LS-DYNA. Physical crash tests, though reliable, are costly and time-consuming. FEA simulations provide a cost-effective, time-efficient alternative, crucial for developing automotive components. LS-DYNA’s SMA material data cards will accurately model SMA behavior, aiding in the optimization of these composites.The innovative crash box design, incorporating ten SMA wire layers within CFRP, demonstrates significant improvements: a 79% weight reduction compared to standard steel versions, a 60% decrease in peak force, and a 97% increase in specific energy absorption. This cutting-edge research highlights the potential of SMAs to revolutionize automotive component design, achieving superior performance and efficiency.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 1: Safe and Equitable Transport
Editors	Ciaran McNally, Páraic Carroll, Beatriz Martinez-Pastor, Bidisha Ghosh, Marina Efthymiou, Nikolaos Valantasis-Kanellos
Place of Publication	Cham, Switzerland
Publisher	Springer
Pages	529-535
Number of pages	7
Edition	1
ISBN (Electronic)	9783031889745
ISBN (Print)	9783031889738
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-88974-5_77
Publication status	Published - 3 Sept 2025
Event	TRA Conference 2024 - Dublin, Ireland Duration: 15 Apr 2024 → 18 Apr 2024 https://2024.traconference.eu/index.html

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Mobility
Volume	Part F903
ISSN (Print)	2196-5544
ISSN (Electronic)	2196-5552

Conference

Conference	TRA Conference 2024
Country/Territory	Ireland
City	Dublin
Period	15/04/24 → 18/04/24
Internet address	https://2024.traconference.eu/index.html

Keywords

advanced composite
automotive
crashworthiness
finite element analysis
First Shape memory alloys
weight reduction

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-031-88974-5_77Licence: CC BY

978-3-031-88974-5_77Final published version, 397 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Elmarakbi, M., Elmasry, A., Fu, Y., & Elmarakbi, A. (2025). Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact. In C. McNally, P. Carroll, B. Martinez-Pastor, B. Ghosh, M. Efthymiou, & N. Valantasis-Kanellos (Eds.), Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 1: Safe and Equitable Transport (1 ed., pp. 529-535). (Lecture Notes in Mobility; Vol. Part F903). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-88974-5_77

Elmarakbi, Mohab ; Elmasry, Ahmed ; Fu, Yongqing et al. / Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact. Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 1: Safe and Equitable Transport. editor / Ciaran McNally ; Páraic Carroll ; Beatriz Martinez-Pastor ; Bidisha Ghosh ; Marina Efthymiou ; Nikolaos Valantasis-Kanellos. 1. ed. Cham, Switzerland : Springer, 2025. pp. 529-535 (Lecture Notes in Mobility).

@inproceedings{d406b19f06de49bf8150ef12e0b7f875,

title = "Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact",

abstract = "The automotive industry{\textquoteright}s pursuit of lightweight components presents a challenge in balancing weight reduction and structural integrity. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) offer a promising solution, capable of altering their properties when triggered, enhancing the crashworthiness of front-end vehicle components such as bumper beams and crash boxes. This research integrates SMA elements into carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), forming an advanced composite material. To validate this approach, crashworthiness testing will use finite element analysis (FEA) software like LS-DYNA. Physical crash tests, though reliable, are costly and time-consuming. FEA simulations provide a cost-effective, time-efficient alternative, crucial for developing automotive components. LS-DYNA{\textquoteright}s SMA material data cards will accurately model SMA behavior, aiding in the optimization of these composites.The innovative crash box design, incorporating ten SMA wire layers within CFRP, demonstrates significant improvements: a 79\% weight reduction compared to standard steel versions, a 60\% decrease in peak force, and a 97\% increase in specific energy absorption. This cutting-edge research highlights the potential of SMAs to revolutionize automotive component design, achieving superior performance and efficiency.",

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author = "Mohab Elmarakbi and Ahmed Elmasry and Yongqing Fu and Ahmed Elmarakbi",

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booktitle = "Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility",

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Elmarakbi, M, Elmasry, A , Fu, Y & Elmarakbi, A 2025, Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact. in C McNally, P Carroll, B Martinez-Pastor, B Ghosh, M Efthymiou & N Valantasis-Kanellos (eds), Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 1: Safe and Equitable Transport. 1 edn, Lecture Notes in Mobility, vol. Part F903, Springer, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 529-535, TRA Conference 2024, Dublin, Ireland, 15/04/24. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-88974-5_77

Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact. / Elmarakbi, Mohab; Elmasry, Ahmed ; Fu, Yongqing et al.
Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 1: Safe and Equitable Transport. ed. / Ciaran McNally; Páraic Carroll; Beatriz Martinez-Pastor; Bidisha Ghosh; Marina Efthymiou; Nikolaos Valantasis-Kanellos. 1. ed. Cham, Switzerland: Springer, 2025. p. 529-535 (Lecture Notes in Mobility; Vol. Part F903).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AU - Elmarakbi, Ahmed

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N2 - The automotive industry’s pursuit of lightweight components presents a challenge in balancing weight reduction and structural integrity. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) offer a promising solution, capable of altering their properties when triggered, enhancing the crashworthiness of front-end vehicle components such as bumper beams and crash boxes. This research integrates SMA elements into carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), forming an advanced composite material. To validate this approach, crashworthiness testing will use finite element analysis (FEA) software like LS-DYNA. Physical crash tests, though reliable, are costly and time-consuming. FEA simulations provide a cost-effective, time-efficient alternative, crucial for developing automotive components. LS-DYNA’s SMA material data cards will accurately model SMA behavior, aiding in the optimization of these composites.The innovative crash box design, incorporating ten SMA wire layers within CFRP, demonstrates significant improvements: a 79% weight reduction compared to standard steel versions, a 60% decrease in peak force, and a 97% increase in specific energy absorption. This cutting-edge research highlights the potential of SMAs to revolutionize automotive component design, achieving superior performance and efficiency.

AB - The automotive industry’s pursuit of lightweight components presents a challenge in balancing weight reduction and structural integrity. Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) offer a promising solution, capable of altering their properties when triggered, enhancing the crashworthiness of front-end vehicle components such as bumper beams and crash boxes. This research integrates SMA elements into carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP), forming an advanced composite material. To validate this approach, crashworthiness testing will use finite element analysis (FEA) software like LS-DYNA. Physical crash tests, though reliable, are costly and time-consuming. FEA simulations provide a cost-effective, time-efficient alternative, crucial for developing automotive components. LS-DYNA’s SMA material data cards will accurately model SMA behavior, aiding in the optimization of these composites.The innovative crash box design, incorporating ten SMA wire layers within CFRP, demonstrates significant improvements: a 79% weight reduction compared to standard steel versions, a 60% decrease in peak force, and a 97% increase in specific energy absorption. This cutting-edge research highlights the potential of SMAs to revolutionize automotive component design, achieving superior performance and efficiency.

KW - advanced composite

KW - automotive

KW - crashworthiness

KW - finite element analysis

KW - First Shape memory alloys

KW - weight reduction

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Elmarakbi M, Elmasry A , Fu Y , Elmarakbi A. Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact. In McNally C, Carroll P, Martinez-Pastor B, Ghosh B, Efthymiou M, Valantasis-Kanellos N, editors, Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility: Proceedings of the 10th TRA Conference, 2024, Dublin, Ireland - Volume 1: Safe and Equitable Transport. 1 ed. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. 2025. p. 529-535. (Lecture Notes in Mobility). Epub 2025 Sept 2. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-88974-5_77

Layering Tailored Shape Memory Alloys into Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites for Enhanced Frontal Impact

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

UN SDGs

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