Deployment behavior control using cables and bi-shape memory alloy convex tape booms

This study aims to demonstrate the synchronous and stable deployment of a newly proposed boom system that consists of cables, a rotary damper, and shape memory alloy with a memorized convex tape shape. Through a shaft, a rotary damper is connected to a reel, and cables wound around the reel are connected to the shape memory alloy boom tips. The deployed part consists of bi-shape memory alloy convex tape booms in which two shape memory alloy convex tapes are combined to form a convex lens cross section, and the outside of the bi-shape memory alloy convex tape is wrapped by a sheet-type heater and polyimide film. The boom is deployed using only the shape recovery force of the shape memory alloy. By installing cables and a rotary damper, the deployment behavior of each boom is controlled, and each boom is deployed synchronously owing to the resistance force of the damper to a leading deploy boom. Moreover, the structural stiffness control concept of the proposed shape memory alloy bi-convex tape boom is discussed considering that Young’s modulus becomes almost half in the martensitic phase

Theoretical prediction and experimental study of a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy: Ga_2MnNi

We predict the existence of a new ferromagnetic shape memory alloy Ga_2MnNi using density functional theory. The martensitic start temperature (T_M) is found to be approximately proportional to the stabilization energy of the martensitic phase (deltaE_tot) for different shape memory alloys. Experimental studies performed to verify the theoretical results show that Ga_2MnNi is ferromagnetic at room temperature and the T_M and T_C are 780K and 330K, respectively. Both from theory and experiment, the martensitic transition is found to be volume conserving that is indicative of shape memory behavior.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Functionally Graded Metal-Metal Composite Structures

Methods and devices are disclosed for creating a multiple alloy composite structure by forming a three-dimensional arrangement of a first alloy composition in which the three-dimensional arrangement has a substantially open and continuous porosity. The three-dimensional arrangement of the first alloy composition is infused with at least a second alloy composition, where the second alloy composition comprises a shape memory alloy. The three-dimensional arrangement is consolidated into a fully dense solid structure, and the original shape of the second alloy composition is set for reversible transformation. Strain is applied to the fully dense solid structure, which is treated with heat so that the shape memory alloy composition becomes memory activated to recover the original shape. An interwoven composite of the first alloy composition and the memory-activated second alloy composition is thereby formed in the multiple alloy composite structure

Shape memory alloy based smart landing gear for an airship

The design and development of a shape memory alloy based smart landing gear for aerospace vehicles is based on a13; novel design approach. The smart landing gear comprises a landing beam, an arch, and a superelastic nickeltitanium shape memory alloy element. This design is of a generic nature and is applicable to a certain class of light13; aerospace vehicles. In this paper a specixFB01;c case of the shape memory alloy based smart landing gear design and13; development applicable to a radio controlled semirigid airship (radio controlled blimp) of 320 m3 volume is13; presented.Ajudicious combination of carbon xFB01;ber reinforced plastic for the landing beam, cane (naturally occurring13; plant product) wrapped with carbon xFB01;ber reinforced plastic for the arch, and superelastic shape memory alloy is13; used in the development. An appropriate sizing of the arch and landing beam is arrived at to meet the dual requirement of low weight and high-energy dissipation while ndergoing x201C;large elasticx201D; (large nonlinear recoverable13; elastic strain) deformations to ensure soft landings when the airship impacts the ground. The soft landing is required13; to ensure that shock and vibration are minimized (to protect the sensitive payload). The inherently large energydissipating character of the superelastic shape memory alloy element in the tensile mode of deformation and the superior elastic bounce back features of the landing gear provide the ideal solution.Anonlinear analysis based on the classical and xFB01;nite element method approach is followed to analyze the structure. Necessary experiments and tests have been conducted to check the veracity of the design. Good correlation has been found between the analyses and testing. This exercise is intended to provide an alternate method of developing an efxFB01;cient landing gear with satisfactory geometry for a x201C;certain class of light aerospace vehiclesx201D; such as airships, rotorcraft, and other light unmanned air vehicles

Hermetic Seal Designs for Sample Return Sample Tubes

Prototypes have been developed of potential hermetic sample sealing techniques for encapsulating samples in a 1-cm-diameter thin-walled sample tube that are compatible with IMSAH (Integrated Mars Sample Acquisition and Handling) architecture. Techniques include a heat-activated, finned, shape memory alloy plug; a contracting shape memory alloy activated cap; an expanding shape memory alloy plug; and an expanding torque plug. Initial helium leak testing of the shape memory alloy cap and finned shape memory alloy plug seals showed hermetic- seal capability compared against an industry standard of <110-8 atm-cc/s He. These tests were run on both clean tubes and dirty tubes dipped in MMS (Mojave Mars Simulant). The leak tests were also performed after thermal cycling between -135 and +55 C to ensure seal integrity after Martian diurnal cycles. Developmental testing is currently being done on the expanding torque plug, and expanding shape memory alloy plug seal designs. The finned shape memory alloy (SMA) plug currently shows hermetic sealing capability based on preliminary tests

Deformation mechanisms in a TiNi shape memory alloy during cyclic loading

The deformation mechanisms governing the cyclic stress-strain behaviour of a TiNi shape memory alloy were investigated in this work. To understand the development of these mechanisms during cyclic loading, three low-cycle fatigue tests were performed and stopped at different stages. The first test was stopped after the first cycle; the second one was stopped after 40 cycles, corresponding to the beginning of the stabilisation of the cyclic strain-stress behaviour; and the last one was carried out to failure (3324 cycles). Submitted to fatigue loading, the response of the TiNi shape memory alloy presents a classical pseudoelastic response. Two deformation mechanisms, identified by TEM observations, are highlighted, the first one by twins and the second by dislocation slip and its interaction with precipitates. These two mechanisms evolve without competition during cyclic loading. The nanomechanical properties of the alloy were also examined, and the evolution of the microhardness or indentation modulus was monitored

NiTi shape-memory transformations: minimum-energy pathways between austenite, martensites, and kinetically-limited intermediate states

NiTi is the most used shape-memory alloy, nonetheless, a lack of understanding remains regarding the associated structures and transitions, including their barriers. Using a generalized solid-state nudge elastic band (GSSNEB) method implemented via density-functional theory, we detail the structural transformations in NiTi relevant to shape memory: those between body-centered orthorhombic (BCO) groundstate and a newly identified stable austenite ("glassy" B2-like) structure, including energy barriers (hysteresis) and intermediate structures (observed as a kinetically limited R-phase), and between martensite variants (BCO orientations). All results are in good agreement with available experiment. We contrast the austenite results to those from the often-assumed, but unstable B2. These high- and low-temperature structures and structural transformations provide much needed atomic-scale detail for transitions responsible for NiTi shape-memory effects.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Coupled thermomechanical dynamics of phase transitions in shape memory alloys and related hysteresis phenomena

In this paper the nonlinear dynamics of shape memory alloy phase transformations is studied with thermomechanical models based on coupled systems of partial differential equations by using computer algebra tools. The reduction procedures of the original model to a system of differential-algebraic equations and its solution are based on the general methodology developed by the authors for the analysis of phase transformations in shape memory materials with low dimensional approximations derived from center manifold theory. Results of computational experiments revealing the martensitic-austenitic phase transition mechanism in a shape-memory-alloy rod are presented. Several groups of computational experiments are reported. They include results on stress- and temperature-induced phase transformations as well as the analysis of the hysteresis phenomenon. All computational experiments are presented for Cu-based structures