Development of adaptive pleated woven fabrics with shape memory alloys

The growing demand for fiber-reinforced plastics for different high-tech lightweight applications requires their consistent and continuous development with a high functional density. The integration of actuator-like materials for developing adaptive reinforced fabrics can increase the market value of fiber-reinforced plastics. This paper reports on the development of adaptive pleated woven fabrics based on shape memory alloys using weaving technology. For the development of these fabrics, a systematic weave pattern was generated. Adaptive pleated woven fabrics were manufactured on a rapier weaving machine with a jacquard unit. By varying the pleat thickness, pleat width and the spacing between two pleats, eight types of adaptive pleated woven fabrics were developed, and their weaving-technical implementation for the subsequent infusion was evaluated. The flexural modulus of infused adaptive pleated woven fabrics was characterized by bending. Experimental results showed that the spacing between two pleats predominantly influences the flexural modulus of impregnated adaptive pleated woven fabrics.