scholarly journals Two-Way and Multiple-Way Shape Memory Polymers for Soft Robotics: An Overview

Actuators ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Scalet
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Soft Robots ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Base Materials ◽  
Real World Applications ◽  
Application Fields

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are smart materials capable of changing their shapes in a predefined manner under a proper applied stimulus and have gained considerable interest in several application fields. Particularly, two-way and multiple-way SMPs offer unique opportunities to realize untethered soft robots with programmable morphology and/or properties, repeatable actuation, and advanced multi-functionalities. This review presents the recent progress of soft robots based on two-way and multiple-way thermo-responsive SMPs. All the building blocks important for the design of such robots, i.e., the base materials, manufacturing processes, working mechanisms, and modeling and simulation tools, are covered. Moreover, examples of real-world applications of soft robots and related actuators, challenges, and future directions are discussed.

Shape memory alloy–actuated prestressed composites with application to morphing automotive fender skirts

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 479-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Venkata Siva C Chillara ◽  
Leon M Headings ◽  
Ryohei Tsuruta ◽  
Eiji Itakura ◽  
Umesh Gandhi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory Alloy ◽  
Shape Memory Alloys ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Design Procedure ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Smart Composite ◽  
Thermally Induced ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Flat Shape

This work presents smart laminated composites that enable morphing vehicle structures. Morphing panels can be effective for drag reduction, for example, adaptive fender skirts. Mechanical prestress provides tailored curvature in composites without the drawbacks of thermally induced residual stress. When driven by smart materials such as shape memory alloys, mechanically-prestressed composites can serve as building blocks for morphing structures. An analytical energy-based model is presented to calculate the curved shape of a composite as a function of force applied by an embedded actuator. Shape transition is modeled by providing the actuation force as an input to a one-dimensional thermomechanical constitutive model of a shape memory alloy wire. A design procedure, based on the analytical model, is presented for morphing fender skirts comprising radially configured smart composite elements. A half-scale fender skirt for a compact passenger car is designed, fabricated, and tested. The demonstrator has a domed unactuated shape and morphs to a flat shape when actuated using shape memory alloys. Rapid actuation is demonstrated by coupling shape memory alloys with integrated quick-release latches; the latches reduce actuation time by 95%. The demonstrator is 62% lighter than an equivalent dome-shaped steel fender skirt.

A Multi-Purpose Method for SMA Actuator Development

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sven Langbein ◽  
Alexander Czechowicz
Keyword(s):  
Standardized Testing ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Simulation Tools ◽  
Sma Actuators ◽  
Shape Memory Actuators ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Sma Actuator ◽  
Actual Shape

Shape memory alloys (SMA) are thermally activated smart materials. Due to their ability to change into a previously imprinted actual shape through the means of thermal activation, they are suitable as actuators for mechatronical systems. Despite of the advantages shape memory alloy actuators provide, these elements are only seldom integrated by engineers into mechatronical systems. Reasons are the complex characteristics, especially at different boundary conditions and the missing simulation- and design tools. Also the lack of knowledge and empirical data are a reason why development projects with shape memory actuators often lead to failures. Therefore, a need of developing methods, standardized testing of empirical properties and computer aided simulation tools is motivated. While computer-aided approaches have been discussed in further papers, as well as standardization potentials of SMA actuators, this paper focuses on a developing method for SMA actuators. The main part of the publication presents the logical steps which have to be passed, in order to develop an SMA actuator, considering several options like mechanical, thermal, and electrical options. As a result of the research work, the paper proves this method by one example in the field of SMA-valve technology.

Novel Behavior in Smart Polymeric Materials: Stress Memory and its Potential Applications

2016 ◽  
Vol 97 ◽  
pp. 93-99
Author(s):  
Jin Lian Hu ◽  
Harishkumar Narayana
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Polymeric Materials ◽  
External Stimulus ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Recovery Stress ◽  
Stress Memory ◽  
Potential Applications

Materials, structures and systems, responsive to an external stimulus are smart and adaptive to our human demands. Among smart materials, polymers with shape memory effect are at the forefront of research leading to comprehensive publications and wide applications. In this paper, we extend the concept of shape memory polymers to stress memory ones, which have been discovered recently. Like shape memory, stress memory represents a phenomenon where the stress in a polymer can be programmed, stored and retrieved reversibly with an external stimulus such as temperature and magnetic field. Stress memory may be mistaken as the recovery stress which was studied quite broadly. Our further investigation also reveals that stress memory is quite different from recovery stress containing multi-components including elastic and viscoelastic forces in addition to possible memory stress. Stress memory could be used into applications such as sensors, pressure garments, massage devices, electronic skins and artificial muscles. The current revelation of stress memory potentials is emanated from an authentic application of memory fibres, films, and foams in the smart compression devices for the management of chronic and therapeutic disorders.

Shape Memory Behavior of Carbon Composites With Functional Interlayer

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Santo ◽  
L. Iorio ◽  
G. M. Tedde ◽  
F. Quadrini
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Polymer Composites ◽  
Polymer Matrix ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Shape Memory Polymer ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Carbon Composites ◽  
Three Point Bending ◽  
Functional Behavior

Shape Memory Polymer Composites (SMPCs) are smart materials showing the structural properties of long-fiber polymer-matrix together with the functional behavior of shape memory polymers. In this study, SM carbon fiber reinforced (CFR) composites have been produced by using a SM interlayer between two CFR prepregs. Their SM properties have been evaluated in comparison with traditional structural CFR composites without the SM interlayer by using an especially designed test. Active and frozen forces are measured during a thermo-mechanical cycle in the three-point bending configuration. Experimental results show that SMPCs are able to fix a temporary deformed shape by freezing high stresses.

scholarly journals Shape-Memory Polymeric Artificial Muscles: Mechanisms, Applications and Challenges

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 4246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujie Chen ◽  
Chi Chen ◽  
Hafeez Ur Rehman ◽  
Xu Zheng ◽  
Hua Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Recent Progress ◽  
Shape Memory Polymer ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Artificial Muscles ◽  
Linkage Design ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Liquid Crystal Elastomers ◽  
Made In

Shape-memory materials are smart materials that can remember an original shape and return to their unique state from a deformed secondary shape in the presence of an appropriate stimulus. This property allows these materials to be used as shape-memory artificial muscles, which form a subclass of artificial muscles. The shape-memory artificial muscles are fabricated from shape-memory polymers (SMPs) by twist insertion, shape fixation via Tm or Tg, or by liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs). The prepared SMP artificial muscles can be used in a wide range of applications, from biomimetic and soft robotics to actuators, because they can be operated without sophisticated linkage design and can achieve complex final shapes. Recently, significant achievements have been made in fabrication, modelling, and manipulation of SMP-based artificial muscles. This paper presents a review of the recent progress in shape-memory polymer-based artificial muscles. Here we focus on the mechanisms of SMPs, applications of SMPs as artificial muscles, and the challenges they face concerning actuation. While shape-memory behavior has been demonstrated in several stimulated environments, our focus is on thermal-, photo-, and electrical-actuated SMP artificial muscles.

Stimulation and reinforcement of shape-memory polymers and their composites: A review

2020 ◽  
pp. 089270572093077
Author(s):  
Ammar Boudjellal ◽  
Djalal Trache ◽  
Kamel Khimeche ◽  
Said Lotfi Hafsaoui ◽  
Ahmed Bougamra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory ◽  
Memory Effect ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Variable Stiffness ◽  
External Stimulus ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Thermal Light ◽  
The Common ◽  
One And Many

Shape-memory polymers (SMPs) and their composites (SMPCs), as a kind of smart materials, can respond to particular external stimulus and recover the original shape. They present outstanding features encompassing shape-memory effect, deformability, biocompatibility, variable stiffness, lightweight, and so on. They have attracted considerable research interest in recent years. Several stimulation methods to actuate the deformation of SMPs and SMPCs, of which the thermal stimulation is the common one, and many types of reinforcements have been developed over the past few years. It is revealed that the SMPC thermal and mechanical properties can be improved by introducing a number of reinforcements. Therefore, to well investigate the SMPC characteristics upon exposure to a specific external stimulus, a deep knowledge and understanding of the potential reinforcements as well as the available stimulation methods are crucial. In this review, reinforcements such as fibers, ceramics, and nanocarbons are first concisely presented. Next, numerous novel stimulation methods used to trigger the memory effect of the SMPCs are introduced, where the mechanisms of electrical, magnetic, thermal, light, and solution stimulations are briefly discussed. Finally, considering the increase of the number of interesting reinforcements as well as the efficient stimulation methods, SMPCs are expected to have great potential applications in different fields.

A comprehensive review on thermomechanical constitutive models for shape memory polymers

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (10) ◽  
pp. 1243-1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebrahim Yarali ◽  
Ali Taheri ◽  
Mostafa Baghani
Keyword(s):  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Constitutive Equations ◽  
Constitutive Relations ◽  
Shape Memory Polymer ◽  
Constitutive Models ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Typical Application ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Thermally Responsive

Shape memory polymers are a class of smart materials, which are capable of fixing their deformed shapes, and can return to their original shape in reaction to external stimulus such as heat. Also due to their exceptional properties, they are mostly used in four-dimensional printing applications. To model and investigate thermomechanical response of shape memory polymers mathematically, several constitutive equations have been developed over the past two decades. The purpose of this research is to provide an up-to-date review on structures, classifications, applications of shape memory polymers, and constitutive equations of thermally responsive shape memory polymers and their composites. First, a comprehensive review on the properties, structure, and classifications of shape memory polymers is conducted. Then, the proposed models in the literature are presented and discussed, which, particularly, are focused on the phase transition and thermo-viscoelastic approaches for conventional, two-way as well as multi-shape memory polymers. Then, a statistical analysis on constitutive relations of thermally activated shape memory polymers is carried out. Finally, we present a summary and give some concluding remarks, which could be helpful in selection of a suitable shape memory polymer constitutive model under a typical application.

Thermo-Mechanical Behavior of Epoxy Shape Memory Polymer

2013 ◽  
Vol 721 ◽  
pp. 169-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Gu ◽  
Shao Xiong Li
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Behavior ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Significant Influence ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Shape Memory Polymer ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Testing Temperature ◽  
Curing Agent ◽  
Different Temperatures ◽  
Viscoelastic Behaviors

The viscoelastic behaviors of shape memory polymers have a significant influence on the function realization of this kind of smart materials. In this study, stress-strain hysteresis under uniaxial tension of epoxy shape memory polymers with varied curing agent contents and types were tested at different temperatures. The effects of the testing temperature, curing-agent type and content on the viscoelastic behaviors of the materials were discussed.

scholarly journals Recent Advances of the Constitutive Models of Smart Materials — Hydrogels and Shape Memory Polymers

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 2050014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rong Huang ◽  
Shoujing Zheng ◽  
Zishun Liu ◽  
Teng Yong Ng
Keyword(s):  
Phase Transition ◽  
Shape Memory ◽  
Smart Materials ◽  
Constitutive Models ◽  
Shape Memory Polymers ◽  
Soft Materials ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
The One ◽  
New Research

Hydrogels and shape memory polymers (SMPs) possess excellent and interesting properties that may be harnessed for future applications. However, this is not achievable if their mechanical behaviors are not well understood. This paper aims to discuss recent advances of the constitutive models of hydrogels and SMPs, in particular the theories associated with their deformations. On the one hand, constitutive models of six main types of hydrogels are introduced, the categorization of which is defined by the type of stimulus. On the other hand, constitutive models of thermal-induced SMPs are discussed and classified into three main categories, namely, rheological models; phase transition models; and models combining viscoelasticity and phase transition, respectively. Another feature in this paper is a summary of the common hyperelastic models, which can be potentially developed into the constitutive models of hydrogels and SMPs. In addition, the main advantages and disadvantages of these constitutive modes are discussed. In order to provide a compass for researchers involved in the study of mechanics of soft materials, some research gaps and new research directions for hydrogels and SMPs constitutive modes are presented. We hope that this paper can serve as a reference for future hydrogel and SMP studies.

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