Shape Memory Alloy Based Morphing Aerostructures

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick T. Calkins ◽  
James H. Mabe
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
System Level ◽  
Variable Geometry ◽  
Fully Integrated

In order to continue the current rate of improvements in aircraft performance, aircraft and components which are continuously optimized for all flight conditions, will be needed. Toward this goal morphing-capable, adaptive structures based on shape memory alloy (SMA) technology that enable component and system-level optimization at multiple flight conditions are being developed. This paper reviews five large-scale SMA based technology programs initiated by The Boeing Company. The SAMPSON smart inlet program showed that fully integrated SMA wire bundles could provide a fighter aircraft with a variable engine inlet capability. The reconfigurable rotor blade program demonstrated the ability of highly robust, controlled 55-Nitinol tube actuators to twist a rotor blade in a spin stand test to optimize rotor aerodynamic characteristics. The variable geometry chevron (VGC) program, which was the first use of 60-Nitinol for a major aerospace application, included a flight test and static engine test of the GE90-115B engine fitted with controlled morphing chevrons that reduced noise and increased engine efficiency. The deployable rotor tab employed tube actuators to deploy and retract small fences capable of significantly reducing blade-vortex interaction generated noise on a rotorcraft. Most recently, the variable geometry fan nozzle program has built on the VGC technology to demonstrate improved jet engine performance. Continued maturation of SMA technology is needed in order to develop innovative applications and support their commercialization.

Overview of Boeing’s Shape Memory Alloy Based Morphing Aerostructures

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. T. Calkins ◽  
J. H. Mabe ◽  
R. T. Ruggeri
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Rotor Blade ◽  
Continuous Optimization ◽  
Engine Performance ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
System Level ◽  
Variable Geometry ◽  
Boeing Company

The Boeing Company has a goal of creating aircraft that are capable of continuous optimization for all flight conditions. Toward this goal we have developed morphing-capable, adaptive structures based on Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) technology that enable component and system level optimization at multiple flight conditions. The SAMPSON Smart Inlet program showed that fully integrated SMA wire bundles could provide a fighter aircraft with a Variable Engine Inlet capability. The Reconfigurable Rotor Blade program demonstrated the ability of highly robust, controlled 55-Nitinol tube actuators to twist a rotor blade in a spin stand test to optimize aerodynamic characteristics. The Variable Geometry Chevrons program, which was the first use of 60-Nitinol for a major aerospace application, included a flight test and static engine test of GE90–115B engine fitted with controlled morphing chevrons that reduced noise and increased engine efficiency. The Deployable Rotor Tab employed tube actuators to deploy and retract small fences which are capable of significantly reducing blade vortex interaction generated noise on a rotorcraft. Most recently, the Variable Geometry Fan Nozzle program has built on the VGC technology to demonstrate improved jet engine performance. The Boeing Company continues to mature SMA technology in order to develop innovative applications and support their commercialization.

B-Spline Based Adaptive Control of Shape Memory Alloy Actuated Robotic Systems

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yavuz Eren ◽  
Constantinos Mavroidis ◽  
Jason Nikitczuk
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Control ◽  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Spline Approximation ◽  
Variable Structure ◽  
Robotic Systems ◽  
Integral Control ◽  
B Spline

In this paper we present a novel controller for Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuated robotic systems. The new controller, called BAC (B-spline based Adaptive Control), is based on a hybrid combination of gain scheduling, B-spline approximation, variable structure control and integral control. The proposed controller shows excellent positioning accuracy and speed throughout the full range of motion of a SMA actuated robotic system in large-scale applications. To demonstrate the validity of BAC, a novel anthropomorphic SMA Actuated forearm/wrist mechanism is utilized in real-time PC based control experiments. BAC is experimentally compared to PID and integral variable structure controllers and it is shown that its performance is superior.

scholarly journals Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy Coatings for Structural Applications: Optimization of HVOF Spraying Parameters

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen De Crescenzo ◽  
Despina Karatza ◽  
Dino Musmarra ◽  
Simeone Chianese ◽  
Theocharis Baxevanis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Thermal Spray Technology ◽  
Spray Parameters ◽  
Hvof Spraying ◽  
Structural Applications ◽  
External Stimuli ◽  
Steel Substrates ◽  
The Impact

This work aims at contributing to the development of a revolutionary technology based on shape memory alloy (SMA) coatings deposited on-site to large-scale metallic structural elements, which operate in extreme environmental conditions, such as steel bridges and buildings. The proposed technology will contribute to improve the integrity of metallic civil structures, to alter and control their mechanical properties by external stimuli, to contribute to the stiffness and rigidity of an elastic metallic structure, to safely withstand the expected loading conditions, and to provide corrosion protection. To prove the feasibility of the concept, investigations were carried out by depositing commercial NiTinol Ni50.8Ti (at.%) powder, onto stainless steel substrates by using high-velocity oxygen-fuel thermal spray technology. While the NiTinol has been known since decades, this intermetallic alloy, as well as no other alloy, was ever used as the SMA-coating material. Due to the influence of dynamics of spraying and the impact energy of the powder particles on the properties of thermally sprayed coatings, the effects of the main spray parameters, namely, spray distance, fuel-to-oxygen feed rate ratio, and coating thickness, on the quality and properties of the coating, in terms of hardness, adhesion, roughness, and microstructure, were investigated.

The Segregation of Chemical Composition in NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Melted by VIM in Lime Crucible

2009 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 1315-1318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhi Shan Yuan ◽  
Zhao Wei Feng ◽  
Jiang Bo Wang ◽  
Wei Dong Miao ◽  
Chong Jian Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vacuum Induction Melting ◽  
Niti Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Induction Melting ◽  
Ingot Metallurgy ◽  
Chemical Homogeneity ◽  
Section Area

Binary NiTi shape memory alloy cast ingots with large scale size are produced by using vacuum induction melting (VIM) in lime crucible, the oxygen and carbon contents are less than 500ppm. Usually, oxygen was introduced into the melts by the dissolution of lime during melting, resulting in higher content of oxygen over 500ppm. VAR + VIM ingot metallurgy is prone to produce materials with a good chemical homogeneity. However, it is difficult for one single melting of NiTi by VIM in the lime crucible. So in the present paper, the segregation of chemical composition and the consistency of transformation temperature in NiTi alloys in as-casted condition along the cross-section area on edge and center, in homogeneization-treated condition, and in as-forged condition along the longitudinal-section area on head and tail, are measured and analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), OM, SEM, and XRD, to indicate the chemical homogeneity in microscopic and macroscopic scale.

Flight Test of a Shape Memory Alloy Actuated Adaptive Trailing Edge Flap

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. T. Calkins ◽  
J. H. Mabe
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Flight Test ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Loop Control ◽  
Rotary Actuator ◽  
Trailing Edge Flaps ◽  
Improved Performance

The Boeing Company has a goal of creating aircraft that are capable of continuous optimization for all flight conditions. Recent advances in SMA actuation and a detailed understanding of wing design were combined to design, build, and safely demonstrate small trailing edge flaps driven by SMA actuation. As part of a 2012 full-scale flight test program a lightweight and compact Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) rotary actuator was integrated into the hinge line of a small flap on the trailing edge of a commercial aircraft wing. This Adaptive Trailing Edge program was part of a Boeing and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) collaboration. Aerodynamic studies of these small trailing edge flaps show that improved performance requires multiple flap configurations that vary with flight regime. Configurations include small angles of deployment for reduced fuel burn and emissions during high speed cruise and larger angles of deployment for increased lift and lower noise during takeoff and approach. SMA actuation is an ideal compact solution to position these small flaps and increase aircraft performance by simply and efficiently altering the wings aerodynamic characteristics for each flight segment. Closed loop control of the flap’s position, using the SMA actuator, was demonstrated at multiple flight conditions during flight tests. Results of the successful flight test on a 737–800 commercial airplane and the significantly improved performance benefits will be presented. This is the first flight test of an SMA rotary actuator system, which was matured from TRL 4 to TRL 7 during the program.

Numerical analysis on shape memory alloy–based adaptive shock control bump

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (15) ◽  
pp. 3055-3066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Hao ◽  
Jinhao Qiu ◽  
Hongli Ji ◽  
Rui Nie
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Angle Of Attack ◽  
Aerodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Wave Drag ◽  
Initial Shape ◽  
Thermally Activated ◽  
Bump Height ◽  
Shock Control Bump ◽  
Shock Control

A three-dimensional adaptive shock control bump made of shape memory alloy is proposed for transonic wings. The methodology to adaptively change the configuration of the airfoil using the shape memory alloy bump to reduce the shock strength and wave drag is numerically demonstrated using an airfoil RAE2822. The shape memory alloy bump is trained to have a flat initial shape with certain initial strain and can swell up when thermally activated. Boyd–Lagoudas phenomenological model is implemented in finite element method and used to compute the two-dimensional profile and the height of the shape memory alloy bump during thermal activation. The results show that the shape memory alloy bump can generate a considerable deflection due to the reverse phase transformation when thermally activated. The dependence of aerodynamic characteristics of the wing on the height of the shape memory alloy bump and the angle of attack is investigated using computational fluid dynamics method. The results show that there is an optimal bump height for a given angle of attack and the bump with a given height is effective only in certain range of angle of attack. Optimization of bump height and the corresponding driving temperature are carried out under variable angles of attack with the lift-to-drag ratio as the objective function.

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