Influence of Anisotropy on the Deformation of a Polymer Composite with Shape Memory

— The influence of the orientation of the reinforcing fibers on the deformation and damage of the shape memory composite during bending and torsion, as well as the restoration of the initial shape of the sample upon activation of the shape memory effect (SME), has been studied. The composite is a three-layer carbon fiber impregnated with a shape memory polymer, the activating factor of which is temperature. The influence of fiber orientation on the formation of systems of irreversible structural defects in the process of shape fixation was revealed. The distribution of these defects determines the degree of shape recovery upon SME activation and the reproducibility of the original shape upon repeating the “shape fixation–recovery” cycles.