Showing papers on "Smart material published in 2004"
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TL;DR: In this article, an overview of the current state of the research field of adaptive and environmentally sensitive polymer surfaces designed to respond to external stimuli in a controlled and predictable manner is presented.
538 citations
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07 Sep 2004TL;DR: In this article, the authors introduce the concept of Smart Structures and Materials and present a scenario of the future of smart structures and their use in building and the future building scenarios.
Abstract: Introduction -- What are Smart Structures and Materials? Smart Structures -- The Instrumented Materials. Structural and Mesoscopic Materials. Molecular Materials -- An Engineering View. Nuclear Materials. Applications Examples. Scenario Building and the Future.
349 citations
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TL;DR: A particular type of smart material, known as chromogenics, can be used for large area glazing in buildings, automobiles, planes, and for certain types of electronic display as mentioned in this paper.
328 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the latest advances in the synthesis, properties, characterisation and applications of carbon nanotubes and related materials are presented, and the roots of this field and some important historical issues are reviewed.
Abstract: The latest advances in the synthesis, properties, characterisation and applications of carbon nanotubes and related materials are presented. The roots of this field and some important historical issues are also reviewed. The mechanical, thermal and electronic properties, as well as applications, of carbon nanotubes are emphasised. These structures have the potential to revolutionise materials nanoscience in the new millennium, because they will be the key components in the fabrication of nanotransistors, robust nanocomposites, conducting polymers, sensors, storage devices, field emission sources and smart materials. However, some important challenges that need to be overcome before real devices are placed in the market are also addressed.
246 citations
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TL;DR: An overview of present smart materials and their sensor/actuator/structure applications can be found in this paper, where fundamental multifield optomagnetopiezoelectric-thermoelastic behaviors and novel transducer technologies applied to complex multifield problems involving elastic, electric, temperature, magnetic, light, and other interactions are emphasized.
Abstract: Many electroactive functional materials have been used in small- and microscale transducers and precision mechatronic control systems for years. It was not until the mid-1980s that scientists started integrating electroactive materials with large-scale structures as in situ sensors and/or actuators, thus introducing the concept of smart materials, smart structures, and structronic systems. This paper provides an overview of present smart materials and their sensor/actuator/structure applications. Fundamental multifield optomagnetopiezoelectric-thermoelastic behaviors and novel transducer technologies applied to complex multifield problems involving elastic, electric, temperature, magnetic, light, and other interactions are emphasized. Material histories, characteristics, material varieties, limitations, sensor/actuator/structure applications, and so forth of piezoelectrics, shape-memory materials, electro- and magnetostrictive materials, electro- and magnetorheological fluids, polyelectrolyte gel...
205 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the problem of axial shear of a circular cylindrical tube subject to a radial magnetic field was formulated and then solved for a specific constitutive law with a magnetic field that is initially radial.
Abstract: Magneto-sensitive (MS) elastomers are “smart materials” whose mechanical properties may be changed rapidly by the application of a magnetic field Such materials typically consist of micron-sized ferrous particles dispersed within an elastomeric matrix The equations governing deformations of these materials were discussed in a recent paper by the present authors and applied in a particular specialization of the constitutive model to the problem of axial shear of a circular cylindrical tube subject to a radial magnetic field In the present paper we develop the governing equations for a more general form of constitutive model and provide alternative forms of the equations, including a Lagrangian formulation To illustrate the theory the problem of azimuthal shear of a circular cylindrical tube is formulated and then solved for a specific constitutive law with a magnetic field that is initially radial The results, which show the stiffening of the azimuthal shear stress/strain response with increasing magnetic field strength, are illustrated graphically
180 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a white light speckle technique for deformation analysis of a magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) and the elastic fiberromagnet composite (EFC) while the magnetic field is turned on.
Abstract: Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) is a new class of smart materials, whose modulus can be controlled by the applied magnetic field. In this paper, using a white light speckle technique for deformation analysis, we present the real-time dynamic deformation progress (the vector diagram of the displacement or the whole-field quantitative displacement distribution) of the MRE and the elastomer?ferromagnet composite (EFC) while the magnetic field is turned on. The experimental results verify the prediction presented in a recently published paper, (Borcea and Bruno 2001 J.?Mech.?Phys.?Solids 49 2877?919), and reveals some interesting phenomena which will give us a deeper understanding for such smart materials.
143 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, a non-parametric method using smart piezoceramic material is used to detect the presence of structural damage and the monitoring of damage progression in concrete, which is quantified by the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) index.
Abstract: This paper presents the results of applying a non-parametric technique to the detection of the presence of damage and the monitoring of damage progression in concrete. The electromechanical impedance method using smart piezoceramic material is utilized in this study. The smart piezoelectric lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) transducers bonded onto the structures are used to actively provide the local excitation and simultaneously sense the structural dynamic response in high frequency band. The frequency-dependent electric admittance signatures of the piezoelectric transducer are compared with the baseline signatures to determine the status of the health of structures. The damage is quantified by the root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) index. The correlation of the RMSD index with the location and extent of damage is investigated. In this paper, two sets of experimental tests are performed on the concrete beams instrumented with PZT transducers. The findings summarized from the experimental results are confirmed by a series of numerical simulations using finite element analysis. The experimental and numerical results demonstrate the suitability of using the smart PZT transducers for in situ health monitoring of structural integrity in civil infrastructures using concrete.
142 citations
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TL;DR: The DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Wing program, led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) under the DARPA Smart Materials and Structures initiative, addressed the development of smart technologies and demonstration of relevant concepts to improve the aerodynamic performance of military aircraft as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Wing program, led by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) under the DARPA Smart Materials and Structures initiative, addressed the development of smart technologies and demonstration of relevant concepts to improve the aerodynamic performance of military aircraft. In Phase 2, Test 2 of the program, the main objective was to demonstrate high-rate actuation of hingeless, spanwise, and chordwise deformable control surfaces using smart materials-based actuators on a 30% scale, full span wind tunnel model of a proposed NGC uninhabited combat air vehicle (UCAV). A minimum actuation rate of 25° flap deflection in 0.33 s, producing a slew rate of 75°/s, was desired. This slew rate is representative of many operational military aircrafts with hinged control surfaces. Numerous trade studies were performed on a variety of smart materials and flexible structure configurations before arriving at the final trailing edge structure design that consisted of a flexcore center and elastomeric outer s...
126 citations
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TL;DR: A recently developed synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction technique complements existing microscopic probes, and allows us to visualize directly the evolution of polarization domains in ferroelectric devices, through metal or oxide electrodes, and with submicrometre spatial resolution.
Abstract: Ferroelectric oxides, such as Pb(Zr,Ti)O(3), are useful for electronic and photonic devices because of their ability to retain two stable polarization states, which can form the basis for memory and logic circuitry. Requirements for long-term operation of practical devices such as non-volatile RAM (random access memory) include consistent polarization switching over many (more than 10(12)) cycles of the applied electric field, which represents a major challenge. As switching is largely controlled by the motion and pinning of domain walls, it is necessary to develop suitable tools that can directly probe the ferroelectric domain structures in operating devices-thin-film structures with electrical contacts. A recently developed synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction technique complements existing microscopic probes, and allows us to visualize directly the evolution of polarization domains in ferroelectric devices, through metal or oxide electrodes, and with submicrometre spatial resolution. The images reveal two regimes of fatigue, depending on the magnitude of the electric field pulses driving the device: a low-field regime in which fatigue can be reversed with higher electric field pulses, and a regime at very high electric fields in which there is a non-reversible crystallographic relaxation of the epitaxial ferroelectric film.
88 citations
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23 Jan 2004TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a method for detecting displacement, impact, stress, and/or strain in carbon nanotubes, which relies on mechanically induced electronic perturbations within the carbon-nanotubes to detect and quantify such stress and strain.
Abstract: The present invention is directed toward devices comprising carbon nanotubes that are capable of detecting displacement, impact, stress, and/or strain in materials, methods of making such devices, methods for sensing/detecting/monitoring displacement, impact, stress, and/or strain via carbon nanotubes, and various applications for such methods and devices. The devices and methods of the present invention all rely on mechanically-induced electronic perturbations within the carbon nanotubes to detect and quantify such stress/strain. Such detection and quantification can rely on techniques which include, but are not limited to, electrical conductivity/conductance and/or resistivity/resistance detection/measurements, thermal conductivity detection/measurements, electroluminescence detection/measurements, photoluminescence detection/measurements, and combinations thereof. All such techniques rely on an understanding of how such properties change in response to mechanical stress and/or strain.
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TL;DR: In this article, the transient response of laminated composite plates with embedded smart material layers is studied using a unified plate theory that includes the classical, first-order, and third-order plate theories.
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TL;DR: In this article, the potential and remaining hurdles for shape memory alloys and their composites to constitute smart materials are investigated, based on recent research, and the authors provide an opinion on the potential of SMAs and composites for smart materials.
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TL;DR: Hydrogen bonding is a key element of this approach, which combines an ease of synthesis with other important approach-specific elements, such as hierarchical self-assembly, strongly enhanced processability, swelling, and cleaving.
Abstract: Block copolymer self-assembly and supramolecular chemistry can be combined most naturally to prepare smart polymer nanomaterials. An attractive route is based on comb-shaped supramolecules, obtained by attaching side chains to (co)polymers by physical (non-covalent) inter- actions. Hydrogen bonding is a key element of our approach. It combines an ease of synthesis with other important approach-specific elements, such as hierarchical self-assembly, strongly enhanced processability, swelling, and cleaving. Functional properties discussed include anisotropic proton con- ductivity, switching proton conductivity, electronically conducting nanowires, polarized luminance, dielectric stacks (optical reflectivity), functional membranes, and nano objects. © 2004 The Japan Chemical Journal Forum and Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Chem Rec 4: 219-230; 2004: Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI 10.1002/tcr.20018
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TL;DR: In this paper, the interlaminar interface (i.e., the interface between the laminae of continuous fibers) was used as a sensor for self-sensing in carbon-fiber-polymer-matrix structural composites.
Abstract: Self-sensing is valuable for structural materials, especially those for smart structures. It does not involve the use of embedded or attached sensors, as the structural material is itself the sensor. Self-sensing was attained in carbon-fiber–polymer-matrix structural composites by using the interlaminar interface (i.e., the interface between the laminae of continuous fibers) as a sensor. The attributes sensed were temperature, moisture, damage, and stress. In the case of temperature sensing, the interlaminar interface functioned as either a thermistor or a thermocouple junction. The thermocouple approach required the fibers in the contacting laminae to be dissimilar, whereas the thermistor approach did not. By using two crossply laminae, a two-dimensional array of sensors was attained for spatial distribution sensing.
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TL;DR: Smart materials respond to chemical or physical changes in their environment in a predictable fashion and can be used to design reversibly soluble-insoluble biocatalysts which share the advantage of reusability with conventional immobilized enzymes.
Abstract: Smart materials respond to chemical or physical changes in their environment in a predictable fashion. One class of such materials are smart polymers which can be used to design reversibly soluble–insoluble biocatalysts. One important advantage of such soluble polymer enzyme conjugates is in bioconversion of macromolecular or insoluble substrates. In addition, they share the advantage of reusability with conventional immobilized enzymes. Stimuli that are used to “recover” smart polymer – enzyme conjugates for reuse include changes in pH, temperature, ionic strength and addition of chemical species like calcium. In addition to these, enzymes linked to photoresponsive polymers have also been described in the literature. Both adsorption and covalent coupling have been used to create such polymer conjugates. End-group conjugation and site-specific conjugation are recently described strategies to obtain biocatalysts with better designs for solving mass transfer constraints. Some important applications of such smart biocatalysts are hydrolysis of starch, cellulose and proteins. Work has also been carried out on hydrolysis of pectins and xylans. All the above applications involve hydrolysis and are hence carried out in aqueous media. For synthetic applications such as synthesis of peptides, some photoresponsive polymers linked to proteases have recently been described.
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TL;DR: In this paper, a 6 × 6 array patch rectenna was designed to theoretically generate voltages up to 540 V, but practically it has generated voltages in the range between 200 and 300 V. Test results show that more than 200 V of output were obtained from a 6×6 array at a far-field exposure (1.8 m away) with an X-band input power of 18 W.
Abstract: The concept of microwave-driven smart material actuators was envisioned and developed as the best option to alleviate the complexity and weight associated with a hard-wire-networked power and control system for smart actuator arrays. The patch rectenna array was initially designed for high current output, but has undergone further development for high voltage output devices used in shape control applications. Test results show that more than 200 V of output were obtained from a 6 × 6 array at a far-field exposure (1.8 m away) with an X-band input power of 18 W. The 6 × 6 array patch rectenna was designed to theoretically generate voltages up to 540 V, but practically it has generated voltages in the range between 200 and 300 V. Testing was also performed with a thin layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor and electro-active paper as smart actuators attached to the 6 × 6 array. Flexible dipole rectenna arrays built on thin-film-based flexible membranes are most applicable for NASA's various missions, such as microwave-driven shape controls for aircraft morphing and large, ultra-lightweight space structures. An array of dipole rectennas was designed for high voltage output by densely populating Schottky barrier diodes to drive piezoelectric or electrostrictive actuators. The dipole rectenna array will eventually be integrated with a power allocation and distribution logic circuit and microbatteries for storage of excessive power. The roadmap for the development of wireless power drivers based on the rectenna array for shape control requires the development of new membrane materials with proper dielectric constants that are suitable for dipole rectenna arrays.
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TL;DR: This paper develops a modeling method that can be implemented by employing the functions of current CAD graphic software and obtain the model that includes all the material information along with geometry information in 3D solid modeling without the problem arising from too much data.
Abstract: There appear more critical requirements for special functions of components/products in various areas, which can be satisfied only by using heterogeneous materials and/or smart materials. The heterogeneous materials include composite materials, functionally graded materials, and heterogeneous materials with a periodic microstructure. To design and manufacture the components made of these materials, the computer models for representing them need first to be built so that further analysis, optimization and manufacturing can be implemented based on the models. This paper develops such a modeling method, which can be implemented by employing the functions of current CAD graphic software and obtain the model that includes all the material information (about periodic microstructures, constituent composition, inclusions, and embedded parts) along with geometry information in 3D solid modeling without the problem arising from too much data.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the full system of equations for highly deformable magneto-sensitive elastomers in an electro-magnetic field is considered and the material constitutive relations for isotropic MS Cauchy-elastic solids are presented.
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TL;DR: Introducing crosslinks between the nanotubes by electron irradiation prevents sliding, and leads to dramatic improvements in strength and mechanical properties of nanotube bundles.
Abstract: The mechanical properties of nanotube bundles are limited by the sliding of individual nanotubes across each other. Introducing crosslinks between the nanotubes by electron irradiation prevents sliding, and leads to dramatic improvements in strength.
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TL;DR: In this paper, a fiber optic multiparameter sensing system for process and structural health monitoring in concrete structures is presented, where the reflectometric technique has been implemented for refractive index measurements by using as transducer the fiber end/host interface.
Abstract: The end of the twentieth century was witness to the merger of several technological disciplines that could eventually revolutionize engineering design philosophy and lead to the creation of intelligence within otherwise inanimate structures. This new technology will endow a structure with senses and the ability to react to its environment and change its state, shape and geometry. The key point for the practical realization of the so-called smart materials is the availability of robust and reliable structurally integrated sensors able to monitor the state of the structure. To this aim, a fiber optic multiparameter sensing system for process and structural health monitoring in concrete structures is presented. The reflectometric technique has been implemented for refractive-index measurements by using as transducer the fiber end/host interface. Results on the capability of the developed sensor to monitor the curing process of thermoset-based composites are presented. The integration with fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) with the aim to perform temperature and strain measurements has been discussed. Two low-cost intensity-based demodulation techniques for FBGs interrogation have been developed and tested.
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TL;DR: In this article, the electrical properties of specific vanadium oxide thin films, deposited on various substrates, have been investigated and it has been shown that conductivity is obtained by Schottky transport mechanism, whereas in high electrical fields conductivity ranges from Ohmic mechanism for low fields to Poole-Frenkel for higher fields.
Abstract: Thin film materials with "smart" properties which react with temperature variations, electrical or magnetic fields, and pressure variations, attracted great attention in recent years. Vanadium dioxide thin films belong to this family of "smart materials" by having a first order phase transition metal-semiconductor. These films display a variety of conductivities under heating in the vicinity of Curie temperature. The electrical properties of vanadium dioxide films were studied in past and found to be outstanding. This paper deals with the electrical properties of specific vanadium oxide thin films, deposited on various substrates. We have been able to show that the electrical transport mechanism of the obtained vanadium oxide films differs in low and high electrical fields. In low electrical fields, conductivity is obtained by Schottky transport mechanism, whereas in high electrical fields conductivity ranges from Ohmic mechanism for low fields to Poole-Frenkel for higher fields.
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TL;DR: In this article, both ILS and flexural mechanical properties of smart QI carbon/epoxy beams have been determined by using short beam shear (SBS) and Iosipescu methods as well as three-point and four-point bending methods.
Abstract: Integrating smart materials such as fibre optic sensors or actuating shape memory alloy (SMA) wires with the host composites during manufacturing is one of the most fundamental aspects in the technology of smart structures. Sensing or actuating needs often dictate at what depth and how many sensors or wires should be embedded in the host composites. Thus manufacturing defects like resin pockets or poor interfacial bonding occur and could affect interlaminar shear (ILS) and flexural mechanical behaviour of smart composite structures. Limited information on these through-the-thickness mechanical properties is available from smart quasi-isotropic (QI) laminates of less than 8-ply thick, but no such data exists for thicker smart QI laminates. Therefore in the present research, both ILS and flexural mechanical properties of smart QI carbon/epoxy beams have been determined by using short beam shear (SBS) and Iosipescu methods as well as three-point and four-point bending methods. While SMA wires were embedded at selected interfaces of two different lay-ups in the longitudinal direction, optical fibres (OFs) were embedded at six different ply interfaces in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. It was found that neither ILS properties nor flexural modulus was affected, irrespective of the smart materials, their orientation, or through-the-thickness location. The flexural strengths did not suffer any noticeable degradation when the OFs or SMA wires were embedded either in the longitudinal direction or in the transverse direction in the tensile region. It was shown that the flexural strength degraded significantly when the OFs embedded in the transverse direction were in the compressive region.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a discussion of air-vehicle power system architectures for actuators, including variable shape inlets and control surfaces that utilize shape memory alloys (SMAs), full-span, chord-wise and span-wise contouring trailing control surfaces, and other strain-based actuators.
Abstract: Electrical power distribution for recently developed smart actuators becomes an important air-vehicle challenge if projected smart actuation benefits are to be met. Among the items under development are variable shape inlets and control surfaces that utilize shape memory alloys (SMAs); full-span, chord-wise and span-wise contouring trailing control surfaces that use SMA or piezoelectric materials for actuation; and other strain-based actuators for buffet load alleviation, flutter suppression and flow control. At first glance, such technologies afford overall vehicle performance improvement. However, integration system impacts have yet to be determined or quantified. Power systems to support smart structures initiatives are the focus of the current paper. The paper has been organized into five main topics for further discussion: (1) air-vehicle power system architectures – standard and advanced distribution concepts for actuators, (2) smart wing actuator power requirements and results highlighting wind tun...
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TL;DR: In this article, the feasibility of converting a thermal flow into an electrical power based on the thermotunneling effect was evaluated in the reciprocal way of work with the objective of being able to power a small sensor node.
Abstract: Over the past few years, MEMS and smart material technologies improvements have allowed autonomous sensor devices to become more and more widespread. As batteries are not always appropriate to power these systems, energy scavenging solutions from ambient power are currently being developed. In particular, many researches have been carried out to improve thermal to electrical energy conversion in ambient temperature gradients. Until now, thermoelectric materials are still the most employed for this application. However, the recent developments in nanoscale device structures open different perspectives. In these nanoscale systems, the heat transport is achieved between two electrodes thanks to electron tunneling. The thermotunnel effect is currently widely studied in the cooling configuration where it has already been shown that it is more efficient than the Peltier effect. We have decided to evaluate this effect in the reciprocal way of work with the objective of being able to power a small sensor node. Considering a device with a simplicial geometrical structure, a modeling has been developed in order to evaluate the feasibility of conversion of a thermal flow into an electrical power based on thermotunneling effect. Comparisons with thermoelectric performances at ambient temperature have been performed.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a framework to manage the life-cycle cost of smart infrastructure systems, which includes a core model for evaluating the life cycle cost of civil infrastructure systems equipped with smart materials (fiber-reinforced concrete, sensor-embedded materials, etc.).
Abstract: Smart infrastructure systems life-cycle costing has not receive much attention from researchers, albeit its considerable potential and proven success. This paper presents a framework to manage the life-cycle cost of these systems. The framework includes a core model for evaluating the life-cycle cost of civil infrastructure systems equipped with smart materials (fiber-reinforced concrete, sensor-embedded materials, etc.) or intelligent devices (smart valves, smart signals, etc.). The model identifies the basic cost elements that should be considered when evaluating life-cycle costs. In addition, the model identifies design and managerial factors that influence the values of these costs.
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TL;DR: Kudva, J.N. et al. as mentioned in this paper developed larger scale, smart hingeless control surfaces capable of high-rate actuation and quantified their performance benefits at test conditions representative of operational flight environments.
Abstract: Building on the research performed during the DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Wing Phase 1 program (Kudva, J.N. et al. (July 1999). Overview of the DARPA/AFRL/NASA Smart Wing Program, SPIE Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, Newport Beach, CA, Vol. 3674, pp. 230 6; Martin, C.A. et al. (1999). Smart Materials and Structures Smart Wing Phase 1 Final Report, AFRL-ML-WP-TR-1999-4162, Air Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, OH.) sought to improve vehicle aerodynamic efficiency using control surfaces actuated by smart materials, the goal of the Phase 2 effort was to develop larger scale, smart hingeless control surfaces capable of high-rate actuation and quantify their performance benefits at test conditions representative of operational flight environments. To achieve this goal, a 30-percent geometric scale, full-span wind tunnel model of a proposed Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) was designed and tested. The model incorp...
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05 Apr 2004TL;DR: In this article, an apparatus and process for preloading an electrically stimulated smart material actuator product to obtain maximum work from the actuator is described. But the work curve is not used to optimize the design of an actuator assembly.
Abstract: An apparatus and process for pre-loading an electrically stimulated smart material actuator product to obtain maximum work from the actuator. When a smart material actuator is optimally pre-loaded certain desirable characteristics become apparent, such as work, operational frequency, hysteresis, repeatability, and overall accuracy. When used in conjunction with a mechanically leveraged actuator structure the smart material actuator can be used to its greatest potential. Since the mechanically leveraged actuator can be based on the maximum work provided by the smart material actuator, certain attributes such as the force, and displacement of total system can be adjusted without loss to system efficiency. Pre-loading methods and a determination of the optimal pre-load force are disclosed. Each smart material actuator type has a unique work curve. In the design of an actuator assembly, the process of optimizing uses the unique work curve to optimize the design for the requirements of the particular application. The unique work curve is used by finding the place where the smart material actuator is capable of providing the most work in order to set the optimum pre-load point accordingly. Different mechanical pre-load techniques are provided.
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors applied an electric field to a polymer in its liquid state, allowing the orientation of chain- or fiber-like inclusions or phases from what was originally an isotropic material.
Abstract: Modern applications could benefit from multifunctional materials having anisotropic optical, electrical, thermal, or mechanical properties, especially when coupled with locally controlled distribution of the directional response. Such materials are difficult to engineer by conventional methods, but the electric field-aided technology presented herein is able to locally tailor electroactive composites. Applying an electric field to a polymer in its liquid state allows the orientation of chain- or fiber-like inclusions or phases from what was originally an isotropic material. Such composites can be formed from liquid solutions, melts, or mixtures of pre-polymers and cross-linking agents. Upon curing, a “created composite” results; it consists of these “pseudofibers” embedded in a matrix. One can also create oriented composites from embedded spheres, flakes, or fiber-like shapes in a liquid plastic. Orientation of the externally applied electric field defines the orientation of the field-aided self-assembled composites. The strength and duration of exposure of the electric field control the degree of anisotropy created. Results of electromechanical testing of these modified materials, which are relevant to sensing and actuation applications, are presented. The materials’ micro/nanostructures were analyzed using microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques.