Development and Wind Tunnel Evaluation of a SMA Based Trim Tab Actuator for a Civil Aircraft

This paper presents about the development and wind tunnel evaluation of an SMA based smart trim tab for a typical 2 seater civil aircraft. SMA actuator was housed in the port side of the elevator for actuating the trim tab. Wind tunnel tests were conducted on a full scale Horizontal Tail model with Elevator and Trim Tab at free stream speeds of 25, 35 & 45 m/sec and also for a number of deflections of the elevator (30° up, 0° neutral & 25° down) and trim-tab 11° & 21° up and 15° & 31° down). To measure the hinge moment experienced by the trim-tab at various test conditions, two miniaturized balances were designed and fabricated. Gain scheduled proportional integral controller was developed to control the SMA actuated smart trim tab. It was confirmed during the tests that the trim-tab could be controlled at the desired position against the aerodynamic loads acting on it for the various test conditions

2-D strength prediction of single-row multi-bolted joints woven fabric kenaf composites

Implementation of multi-bolts arrangements in structures connections are commonplace in steel design to allow for joint efficiency and stronger connections. Woven fabric kenaf fibers are potentially used as reinforcement in composite materials due to excellent specific strength, renewability and less hazardous during handling as compared to commercial fibers. A two-dimensional Extended Finite Element Method (XFEM) framework of single-row multi-bolted joints has been developed to study the stress distribution and predict the joint bearing stress at failure. Stress distribution among adjacent bolts were compared along the hole boundary and net-tension plane, suggesting net-tension failure occurred at end-bolt. The predicted bearing strength from finite element modelling are validated against experimental framework. The testing series under investigated consists of four datasets from single-row 2 bolts and 3 bolts single-lap joints. Current study showed that the XFEM models demonstrated good agreements with the experimental results

Nonlinear analyses of composite aerospace structures in sonic fatigue

This report summarizes the semiannual research progress, accomplishments, and future plans performed under the NASA Langley Research Center Grant No. NAG-1-1358. The primary research effort of this project is the development of analytical methods for the prediction of nonlinear random response of composite aerospace structures subjected to combined acoustic and thermal loads. The progress, accomplishments, and future plates on four sonic fatigue research topics are described. The sonic fatigue design and passive control of random response of shape memory alloy hybrid composites presented in section 4, which is suited especially for HSCT, is a new initiative

Shape Memory Alloy Actuator Design: CASMART Collaborative Best Practices

Upon examination of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation designs, there are many considerations and methodologies that are common to them all. A goal of CASMART's design working group is to compile the collective experiences of CASMART's member organizations into a single medium that engineers can then use to make the best decisions regarding SMA system design. In this paper, a review of recent work toward this goal is presented, spanning a wide range of design aspects including evaluation, properties, testing, modeling, alloy selection, fabrication, actuator processing, design optimization, controls, and system integration. We have documented each aspect, based on our collective experiences, so that the design engineer may access the tools and information needed to successfully design and develop SMA systems. Through comparison of several case studies, it is shown that there is not an obvious single, linear route a designer can adopt to navigate the path of concept to product. SMA engineering aspects will have different priorities and emphasis for different applications

Low spring index, large displacement Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) coil actuators for use in macro- and micro-systems

Shape memory alloys (SMA) offer unique shape changing characteristics that can be exploited to produce low­ mass, low-bulk, large-stroke actuators. We are investigating the use of low spring index (defined as the ratio of coil diameter to wire diameter) SMA coils for use as actuators in morphing aerospace systems. Specifically, we describe the development and characterization of minimum achievable spring index coiled actuators made from 0.3048 mm (0.012") diameter shape memory alloy (SMA) wire for integration in textile architectures for future compression space suit applications. Production and shape setting of the coiled actuators, as well as experimental test methods, are described. Force, length and voltage relationships for multiple coil actuators are reported and discussed. The actuators exhibit a highly linear (R[superscript 2] < 0.99) relationship between isometric blocking force and coil displacement, which is consistent with current SMA coil models; and SMA coil actuators demonstrate the ability to produce significant linear forces (i.e., greater than 8 N per coil) at strains up to 3x their initial (i.e., fully coiled) length. Discussions of both the potential use of these actuators in future compression space suit designs, and the broader viability of these actuators in both macro- and micro-systems, are presented.United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Office of the Chief Technologist (Space Technology Research Fellowship Grant NNX11AM62H)MIT-Portugal Progra

Low Spring Index NiTi Coil Actuators for Use in Active Compression Garments

This paper describes the modeling, development, and testing of low spring index nickel titanium (NiTi) coil actuators designed for use in wearable compression garments, and presents a prototype tourniquet system using these actuators. NiTi coil actuators produce both large forces (>1 N) and large recoverable displacements (>100% length) that are well suited for compression garment design. Thermomechanical coil models are presented that describe temperature and force as a function of nondimensionalized coil geometry, extensional strain, and applied voltage. These models suggest that low spring index coils maximize activation force, and an analytical model is presented to predict garment counter-pressure based on actuator architecture. Several low spring index (C = 3.08) coils were manufactured, annealed, and tested to assess their detwinning and activation characteristics. Results suggest both annealing and applied stress affect activation thresholds. Actuator force increases both with extensional strain and applied voltage up to 7.24 N. A first-generation compression tourniquet system using integrated actuators with direct voltage control of applied pressure is presented, demonstrating >70% increase in applied pressure during activation. This approach enables new, dynamic garments with controllable activation and low effort donning and doffing, with applications ranging from healthcare solutions to advanced space suit design

Shape memory alloys for aerospace, recent developments, and new applications: a short review

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) show a particular behavior that is the ability to recuperate the original shape while heating above specific critical temperatures (shape memory effect) or to withstand high deformations recoverable while unloading (pseudoelasticity). In many cases the SMAs play the actuator's role. Starting from the origin of the shape memory effect, the mechanical properties of these alloys are illustrated. This paper presents a review of SMAs applications in the aerospace field with particular emphasis on morphing wings (experimental and modeling), tailoring of the orientation and inlet geometry of many propulsion system, variable geometry chevron for thrust and noise optimization, and more in general reduction of power consumption. Space applications are described too: to isolate the micro-vibrations, for low-shock release devices and self-deployable solar sails. Novel configurations and devices are highlighted too

Bending continuous structures with SMAs: a novel robotic fish design

In this paper, we describe our research on bio-inspired locomotion systems using deformable structures and smart materials, concretely shape memory alloys (SMAs). These types of materials allow us to explore the possibility of building motor-less and gear-less robots. A swimming underwater fish-like robot has been developed whose movements are generated using SMAs. These actuators are suitable for bending the continuous backbone of the fish, which in turn causes a change in the curvature of the body. This type of structural arrangement is inspired by fish red muscles, which are mainly recruited during steady swimming for the bending of a flexible but nearly incompressible structure such as the fishbone. This paper reviews the design process of these bio-inspired structures, from the motivations and physiological inspiration to the mechatronics design, control and simulations, leading to actual experimental trials and results. The focus of this work is to present the mechanisms by which standard swimming patterns can be reproduced with the proposed design. Moreover, the performance of the SMA-based actuators’ control in terms of actuation speed and position accuracy is also addressed