Numerical Modelling of the Activation Behaviour of SMA‐Actuator Wires – Application in an Innovative Drive System

The activation behaviour of Shape‐Memory‐Alloy actuators (SMA) (and more specifically their dynamic properties) is characterised by the rate of heating and cooling. This paper deals with the development, the validation and the application of a numerical model that simulates the activation behaviour of straight SMA‐wires depending on their geometry, the loading condition and an arbitrary time variant heating current. Taking changing thermal, electrical, geometric and mechanical boundary conditions into consideration, the model supports the design layout process of technical solutions with SMA‐wires. Based on this numerical model for dimensioning and conditioning of SMA‐actuators, an innovative rotatory drive system powered by straight SMA‐wires is presented.     

SMA-based smart soft composite structure capable of multiple modes of actuation

This paper introduces the design of a smart soft composite (SSC) actuator capable of multiple modes of actuation. This actuator combines four shape memory alloy (SMA) wires embedded in a soft matrix where one or two SMA wires can be activated to induce the actuator into either the bending mode, the twisting mode or the combined bending and twisting mode of actuation. Experimental results for actuators of different lengths were obtained for all modes of actuation and the actuator is capable of large deformations in all modes and directions of actuation. Then a simple FEA model was used to predict the range of deformation for different lengths in the different modes of actuation. This model is able to predict accurately the bending and twisting angles of the actuator for the different modes of actuation. The 120 mm actuator is capable of deformations up to approximately 160° in both the pure bending and pure twisting modes and of approximately 80° for both twisting and bending in the combined twisting and bending mode of actuation.     

Size effect on the optimum actuation condition for SMA-composites

Techniques of using shape memory alloy (SMA) wires as actuators inside the hybrid composites have been studied extensively for improving mechanical properties of structures. There were many experimental findings and theoretical predictions agreed the higher the actuation temperature on built-in SMA wires, the greater the improvement in mechanical response of a composite due to recovery action of wires. However, due to the limitation of interfacial shear strength, over-actuation (by means of electrical resistive heating) of SMA wire is able to induce the development of interfacial crack inside the composite structure. When the maximum interfacial shear strength is attained due to vigorous recovery action of SMA wire under relatively high temperature, interfacial debond can be initiated. In this paper, a typical SMA–matrix cylinder model is employed to study the captioned risk of SMA-composite actuation. Applying the criterion of optimum actuation condition (OAC), target actuation level can be determined to prevent structural failure due to over-actuation. Effects of geometric factors including wire embedded length and matrix-to-wire radius ratio on the interfacial shear stress distribution are evaluated prior to the study of size effect on OAC. Results indicate that the size effect become negligible when these two geometric factors are sufficiently large and as a result, the governing equation of OAC can be greatly reduced to a simple relation between externally applied stress and actuation temperature on the SMA wire. This simplified model is able to enhance the application of OAC and provide a simple and explicit solution to determine an ideal range of actuation levels for a large scale SMA-composite structure in the design stage.     

SMA纤维混杂层合梁的振动分析

提出一类形状记忆合金(SMA)纤维混杂层合梁的数学模型。采用多胞模型、形状记忆合金一维本构关系分析方法,同时考虑铁木辛柯剪切和马氏体相变的影响。目的是为了更进一步了解层合梁的振动控制。SMA纤维用来作为驱动器,它能够改变弹性模量和回复力,以此改变梁的频率。分析了SMA纤维含量、铺设角度和横向剪切变形的影响。结果表明,通过激活形状记忆合金纤维及改变初始变形,对层合梁的自振频率有很强的控制和调节能力。     

A simulation study on the thermal buckling behavior of laminated composite shells with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wires

In this paper, numerical simulation analyses of the thermal buckling behavior of laminated composite shells with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wires were performed to investigate the effect of embedded SMA wires on the characteristics of thermal buckling. In order to simulate the thermomechanical behavior of SMA wires, the constitutive equation of the SMA wires was formulated in the form of an ABAQUS user subroutine. The computational program was verified by showing the response of the pseudoelasticity and shape memory effect (SME) at various temperatures and stress levels. Modeling of the laminated composite shells with embedded SMA wires and thermal buckling analyses were performed with the use of the ABAQUS code linked with the subroutine of the formulated SMA constitutive equations. The thermal buckling analyses of the composite shells with embedded SMA wires show that the critical buckling temperature can be increased and the thermal buckling deformation can be decreased by using the activation force of embedded SMA wire actuators.     

新型自复位黏弹性阻尼支撑力学性能研究

提出了一种新型的自复位黏弹性阻尼支撑(self-centering viscoelastic damping brace,SCVEDB),该支撑利用形状记忆合金的拉伸变形和黏弹性材料的剪切变形共同耗散能量,同时利用形状记忆合金的超弹性特性复位。设计和加工了SCVEDB最基本的模型,对该支撑试件进行了循环往复荷载作用下的力学性能试验,研究了位移幅值、加载速率、SMA丝数量、黏弹性材料的厚度对其性能的影响,同时通过割线刚度、耗散能量、等效阻尼比、自复位比4个参数量化分析了SCVEDB的力学性能。对SMA丝进行了循环拉伸试验,利用OpenSees平台建立了SMA的材料本构数值模型,然后将其与模拟黏弹性材料的Bouc-Wen模型并联,建立了该支撑的力学模型,进而模拟了支撑的力学性能,数值模拟结果与试验结果吻合较好。     

A study on thermomechanical deformation of elastic beam with embedded shape memory alloy wires

The bending deformation of an elastic beam with eccentrically embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wires under the activation of electrical current has been investigated. A procedure, which accounts for the effect of transient heat transfer and gives rise to the beam bending responding to prescribed input electrical current profile is used for analysis. It is found that influences of ambient temperature, electric current intensity and prestrain of SMA on the bending deformation of beam are significant.     

Stability analysis of a capacitive micro-resonator with embedded pre-strained SMA wires

This paper presents a study on the effects of the SMA wires’ characteristics on tuning the stability of a capacitive micro-resonator. In the proposed model, pre-strained SMA wires have been embedded in a double clamped resonant microbeam which is actuated electrostatically. The governing equations of the system have been introduced and then an eigen-value problem has been adopted to investigate stability. Galerkin-based numerical methods have been used to solve the governing equation of motion for obtaining the motion trajectories of the beam. The effects of the number of SMA wires, their diameter, pre-strain and temperature on the pull-in instability and frequency response of the resonator have been shown. Critical values of recovery stress and SMA temperature for avoiding instability, with and without applying DC voltage have been obtained. The results have shown that by changing each of the SMA parameters, one can reach a needed magnitude of recovery stress as well as transmitted longitudinal force to the host beam, and consequently control and tune the stability and resonance frequency of the micro-resonator.

     

Thermal buckling and postbuckling analysis of a laminated composite beam with embedded SMA actuators

In this paper, the thermal buckling and postbuckling behaviours of a composite beam with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are investigated analytically. For the purpose of enhancing the critical buckling temperature and reducing the lateral deflection for the thermal buckling, the characteristics of thermal buckling are investigated through the use of the shape recovery force associated with SMA wire actuators. The results of both thermal buckling and postbuckling behaviours present quantitatively how the shape recovery force affects the thermal buckling behaviour. The analytical results show that the shape recovery force reduces the thermal expansion of the composite laminated beam, which results in both an increment of the critical buckling temperature and also a reduction of the lateral deflection of postbuckling behaviours. A new formula is also proposed to describe the critical buckling temperature of the laminated composite beam with embedded SMA wire actuators.     

Bending of shape-memory alloy-reinforced composite beam

Based on the one-dimensional thermo-mechanical constitutive relation of a shape-memory alloy (SMA) in which the dependence of the elastic modulus of SMA upon the martensite fraction is considered, a constitutive relation for the bending of a composite beam with eccentrically embedded SMA wires has been developed. The deflection-temperature relation upon heating and cooling has been analysed for the SMA-reinforced composite beam.     

Modeling and analysis for the development of Lightweight Piezoceramic Composite Actuators (LIPCA)

This paper focuses on the modeling and analysis of Lightweight Piezoceramic Composite Actuators (LIPCA) for developmental purposes. A simple analytical model and a numerical model for predicting the displacement of the actuators due to both an applied input voltage and transverse load to the piezoelectric ceramic layer are presented. The analytical model describing the laminated beam actuation results in two primary design parameters, an actuation coefficient of a laminated beam C_ulb and the bending stiffness of a laminated beam EI_lb. The C_ulb is a parameter when maximum displacement is required. The bending stiffness affects the displacement performance when a transverse load is applied to the actuators. An experiment was performed to verify the proposed laminated beam model. The numerical model, a NASTRAN finite element model, is used to assess the effect of initial dome heights of actuators on the displacement. An increase in the initial dome height produces a positive effect for the low anisotropic actuators and gives a negative effect for the high anisotropic actuators. In conclusion, the results indicate that designing to maximize the C_ulb, the EI_lb, and the initial dome height of the low anisotropic actuators could generate LIPCA-type actuators with larger displacement and higher force.     

基于Preisach理论的形状记忆合金温度-位移迟滞仿真研究

摘 要：智能材料如形状记忆合金(Shape Memory Alloy,SMA)已经广泛应用于驱动器和传感器的设计,实现定位和主动控制目的。然而,受迟滞影响,SMA驱动器的工作精度大大降低,限制了其应用。多数智能材料中,选择Preisach理论成为迟滞建模工具,近年来,也涉及到SMA材料系统。本文,讨论运用Preisach模型描述SMA驱动器系统的迟滞行为,尤其针对驱动器系统的模型建立过程,修正经典Preisach模型的几何解释和数值实现方法。最后,引入Gobert给出的Preisach平面的辨识函数执行仿真计算,数值结果表明该模型能够很好地描述SMA驱动器的迟滞行为。     

压电悬臂梁的动力学建模与主动控制

为计及压电层的刚度特性,基于一阶剪切变形理论推导压电层合梁的抗弯刚度,由Hamilton变分原理建立压电层合梁的有限元模型,采用模态叠加方法对有限元模型降阶。在应变最大处配置制动器和传感器,基于鲁棒极点配置算法对低阶系统设计状态反馈,配置极点至期望位置。把针对低阶系统设计的控制器作用于原系统以实现振动主动控制。数值算例验证了这种力学建模方法和控制器设计方法的有效性。     

Smart soft composite actuator with shape retention capability using embedded fusible alloy structures

This work presents a new kind of shape memory alloy (SMA) based composite actuators that can retain its shape in multiple configurations without continuous energy consumption by changing locally between a high-stiffness and a low-stiffness state. This was accomplished by embedding fusible alloy (FA) material, Ni-chrome (Ni–Cr) wires and SMA wires in a smart soft composite (SSC) structure. The soft morphing capability of SMA-based SSC structures allows the actuator to produce a smooth continuous deformation. The stiffness variation of the actuator was accomplished by melting the embedded FA structures using Ni–Cr wires embedded in the FA structure. First, the design and manufacturing method of the actuator are described. Then, the stiffness of the structure in the low and high-stiffness states of the actuator were measured for different applied currents and heating durations of the FA structure and results show that the highest stiffness of the actuator is more than eight times that of its lowest stiffness. The different shape retention capability of the actuator were tested using actuators with one or two segments and these were compared with a numerical model.     

The cracking of composites consisting of discontinuous ductile fibres in a brittle matrix — effect of fibre orientation

The effect of the orientation of metal wires on the opening of a crack in a brittle-matrix composite has been studied. The force arising from the plastic bending of a wire which is weakly bonded to the matrix and which crosses the matrix crack at an angleθ to the crack face normal has been measured in model resin-wire composites and good agreement is found with a simple theory based on the calculation of the force needed to produce a plastic hinge in a cantilever beam. The force passes through a maximum at a small crack opening, of the order of one wire diameter, and decreases with further crack opening. The The largest force is obtained for a value ofθ of approximately 45°. For wires whose length approaches the critical length, the force and the total work of fracture arising from the bending of the wire are small compared to the values arising from the interfacial shear stress resisting pull-out; the contributions due to bending and interfacial shear stress are of comparable magnitudes for wires which are approximately one-fifth of the critical length.     

The active buckling control of laminated composite beams with embedded shape memory alloy wires

In this paper, the results of an experimental analysis on the active buckling control behaviour of a laminated composite beam with embedded shape memory alloy (SMA) wires are presented. For the purpose of enhancing the critical buckling load, active buckling control was investigated through the use of the reaction time associated with the shape recovery force of SMA wires. An increased critical buckling load and altered deflection shape due to the effects of activation of embedded SMA wires are represented qualitatively and quantitatively on the load–deflection behaviour records. The results obtained from this active buckling control test confirm that the buckling resistance in a composite beam with embedded SMA wires can be increased by the use of an activation force of the embedded SMA wires. Based on our experimental analysis, a new formula for the behaviour control of active buckling in a laminated composite beam with embedded SMA wires is also suggested.     

Topology optimization of planar shape memory alloy thermal actuators using element connectivity parameterization

This paper presents the direct application of topology optimization to the design of shape memory alloy (SMA) thermal actuators. Because SMAs exhibit strongly nonlinear, temperature‐dependent material behavior, designing effective multidimensional SMA actuator structures is a challenging task. We pursue the use of topology optimization to address this problem. Conventional material scaling topology optimization approaches are hampered by the complexity of the SMA constitutive behavior combined with large actuator deflections. Therefore, for topology optimization we employ the element connectivity parameterization approach, which offers improved analysis convergence and robustness, as well as an unambiguous treatment of nonlinear materials. A path‐independent SMA constitutive model, aimed particularly at the NiTi R‐phase transformation, is employed, allowing efficient adjoint sensitivity analysis. The effectiveness of the proposed SMA topology optimization is demonstrated by numerical examples of constrained and unconstrained formulations of actuator stroke maximization, which provide insight into the characteristics of optimal SMA actuators. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

形状记忆合金丝增强复合材料的热机特性——智能复合材料研究

在形状记忆合金丝增强复合材料中,形状记忆合金丝作为分布式驱动器使复合材料具有自适应功能.本文根据形状记忆合金的一维本构关系,对形状记忆合金丝增强复合材料的温度与应力、应变关系进行理论探索;对形状记忆合金丝增强复合材料的拉伸性能、温度变化时的自由回复和受限回复性能进行了实验,并与模拟计算结果进行了比较.     

Testing structural concrete beam elements

A method for testing structural concrete beam and column elements subjected to axial load, bending moment and shear is described. The information presented includes: the test set-up, with particular emphasis on how the loads are applied using a combination of hydraulic actuators and rigid links connected to a yoke at each end of the specimen; the specimen boundary conditions which were designed to reduce the shear transferred by strut action; as well as highlights from the first 17 tests which involved monotonic shear, reverse cyclic shear and reverse cyclic axial load on beam elements up to 350 mm×700 mm in cross-section.     

Vibrations of plates with superelastic shape memory alloy wires

The article illustrates an approach to the passive vibration control of thin plates utilizing prestressed superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) wires. The SMA wires can freely slide within protective sleeves that are either embedded within the structure or bonded to its surface. The vibration control mechanism combines an effective continuous elastic foundation representing the support provided by SMA wires to the structure with the energy dissipation as a result of the hysteresis occurring in the wires. The other approach to the vibration control employs superelastic wires attached to the structure at discrete points. The mathematical formulation of the problem presented in the article can be adopted for a rigorous computational analysis. In particular, a closed form expression is obtained for the loss factor in large aspect ratio plates supported at the midspan by a system of parallel SMA wires. As follows from numerical examples presented for such plates, the proposed method offers a significant damping, far exceeding that observed in conventional engineering structures.