Smart material

About: Smart material is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 3704 publications have been published within this topic receiving 74280 citations. The topic is also known as: intelligent material & responsive material.

Design and testing of piezoelectric-hydraulic actuators

Abstract: This paper describes design methodologies for construction of an actuator that uses smart materials to provide hydraulic fluid power. In the class of actuators described, hydraulic fluid decouples the operating frequency of the output cylinder from the drive frequency of the piezoelectric or other smart material. This decoupling allows the piezoelectric to be driven at high frequency, to extract the maximum amount of energy from the material, and the hydraulic cylinder to be driven at low frequencies to provide long stroke. However, due to fluid compressibility and structural compliance, the fundamental impedance match between the fluid and the piezoelectric make it difficult to convert energy from the piezoelectric into pressurized hydraulic fluid flow. The basic design tradeoffs and major technical issues are discussed in the areas of materials, mechanical design, and fluid-mechanical interface. Prototype devices and component measurements are presented. Test methods are described, and test results quantifying pump pressure and flow, and actuator force and velocity are summarized. The series of tests show the potential of these devices for high force long stroke devices powered by smart materials.

Development of Smart Textile Materials with Shape Memory Alloys for Application in Protective Clothing

Abstract: The latest directions of research on the design of protective clothing concern the implementation of smart materials, in order to increase its protective performance. This paper presents results on the resistance to thermal factors such as flames, radiant heat, and molten metals, which were obtained for the developed smart textile material with shape memory alloys (SMAs). The laboratory tests performed indicated that the application of the designed SMA elements in the selected textile material system caused more than a twofold increase in the resistance to radiant heat (RHTI24 = 224 s) with an increase of thickness of 13 mm (sample located vertically with a load), while in the case of tests on the resistance to flames, it was equal to 41 mm (sample located vertically without a load) and in the case of tests on the resistance to molten metal, it was 17 mm (sample located horizontally).

Smart Self-Healing and Self-Sensing Cementitious Composites—Recent Developments, Challenges, and Prospects

Abstract: The use of smart cementitious materials is becoming increasingly critical for the enhanced serviceability of structures. The addition of carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and various nano-powders such as nano-silica, carbon black, and graphite giving cementitious materials electrical properties that can be used for self-sensing has been known for almost two decades. Many sensing principles and techniques using smart materials have been successfully developed and applied mostly in laboratory testing over last few decades. The strong capacity of Fiber-Reinforced Cementitious Composites for autogenous healing in addition to crack control (especially in the case of Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites) has been reported by many researchers. Similarly, the applications of different mineral and bio-additive materials to achieve the self-healing of cracks have been noted with great interest. Design for serviceability based on the durability of the materials used in concrete structures is often neglected. With durability performance testing becoming more sophisticated, detailed service life design is being demanded in the most important infrastructure projects. The present review is focused on identifying field applications and highlighting the Performance-Driven Design Approach for tailoring material solutions for the problems likely to be faced by civil infrastructures in the future. A real-life case study is presented to illustrate the minimal cost implications of adopting the latest smart material for an eco-friendly, durable, reliable, and resilient infrastructure. Identifying critical challenges faced by the industry and developing solutions for the same is going to help bridge the current gaps between research and adoption.

Smart Electronic Materials: Fundamentals and Applications

Abstract: Smart materials respond rapidly to external stimuli to alter their physical properties. They are used in devices that are driving advances in modern information technology and have applications in electronics, optoelectronics, sensors, memories and other areas. This book fully explains the physical properties of these materials, including semiconductors, dielectrics, ferroelectrics, ferromagnetics and organic polymers. Fundamental concepts are consistently connected to their real-world applications. It covers structural issues, electronic properties, transport properties, polarization-related properties and magnetic properties of a wide range of smart materials. The book contains carefully chosen worked examples to convey important concepts and has many end-of-chapter problems. It is written for first year graduate students in electrical engineering, materials science or applied physics programs. It is also an invaluable book for engineers working in industry or research laboratories. A solution manual and a set of useful viewgraphs are also available for instructors.