This work presents smart laminated composites that enable morphing vehicle structures. Morphing panels can be effective for drag reduction, for example, adaptive fender skirts. Mechanical prestress provides tailored curvature in composites without the drawbacks of thermally induced residual stress. When driven by smart materials such as shape memory alloys, mechanically-prestressed composites can serve as building blocks for morphing structures. An analytical energy-based model is presented to calculate the curved shape of a composite as a function of force applied by an embedded actuator. Shape transition is modeled by providing the actuation force as an input to a one-dimensional thermomechanical constitutive model of a shape memory alloy wire. A design procedure, based on the analytical model, is presented for morphing fender skirts comprising radially configured smart composite elements. A half-scale fender skirt for a compact passenger car is designed, fabricated, and tested. The demonstrator has a domed unactuated shape and morphs to a flat shape when actuated using shape memory alloys. Rapid actuation is demonstrated by coupling shape memory alloys with integrated quick-release latches; the latches reduce actuation time by 95%. The demonstrator is 62% lighter than an equivalent dome-shaped steel fender skirt.
