Shape memory actuators - potentials and specifics of their technical use and electrical activation
Due to a martensitic phase change shape memory alloys can revert to their original shape by heating when they undergo an appropriate treatment. Actuator elements with this shape memory effect can show a significant design change combined with a considerable force. Therefore they can be used to solve many technical tasks in the field of actuating elements and mechatronics. These intelligent materials will play an increasing role in the next years, especially within the automotive technology, energy management, power and mechanical engineering as well as medical technology. In order to use the potential of these materials in an optimal way it is necessary to know and understand the extraordinary and unconventional properties of shape memory alloys. This paper will present the commonly used systems of shape memory alloys of today including their performance characteristics and will explain the basics of the shape memory effect in a vivid way. A multitude of application possibilities of shape memory actuators will be presented, in particular the research and development projects that have been carried out at the Konstanz University of Applied Sciences during the last years. In this way a solid state heat engine and an intramedullary nail for bone elongation will be presented as well as various adaptive systems for automotive safety and comfort systems, driven by shape memory elements. Regarding the applications in the automotive field a special focus will be given to different electrical activations to enable very fast contraction times of the shape memory components.
The electro-mechanical control of element NiTi shape memory alloy strip while bending, based on thermal analysis evidence
This paper presents an experimental investigation of a commercial shape memory alloy strip consisting of nickel and titanium (NiTi SMA), which correlates the thermal properties (phase transitions) with the electrical and mechanical properties of the material, allowing to be used for control applications in engineering. The bending performances of the SMA strip at different values of the activation electric current, during heating process, are also investigated. By using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments, the thermal characteristics of the SMA strip were identified. The results of this thermal analysis were the basis for determining the equilibrium temperature, entropy and force developed by the SMA strip during the phase transformation. For the study of the SMA strip, the authors have developed an experimental platform, which uses a portable reconfigurable I/O (RIO) device and LabVIEW graphical programming environment for the measurement, testing and rapid control of parameters, and a piezo-film sensor for controlling of SMA strip movement. The real-time measurements and acquired waveforms are displayed on a PC screen, and the data associated with these waveforms are stored for later use, i.e. for applications in safety engineering like the fire extinguishing control, where very short response/activation times are required.
Mechanical behaviour and durability of high volume fly ash cementitious composites
The purpose of this research is to separate different morphological particles of ASTM class F fly ash, and study their effect on mechanical behaviour and durability of high volume cementitious mixtures. In this research wet separation of raw fly ash is carried out, which resulted in three layers of different morphological particles. The first layer of particles float, comprise of about 1-5% of fly ash, is identified as cenospheres or hollow spheres. The second layer of particles is measured to be 55-60% of raw fly ash and consisting of porous spherical and rounded particles rich in Si and Al. The third layer particles is measured to be about 35-40% of raw fly ash. High volume fly ash cementitious composites containing second or third layer particles are tested under compression and bending, highlighting a higher strength and ductility in comparison to cementitious ones containing raw fly ash particles. KEYWORDS. Cementitious matrix; Raw fly ash; Second layer particles; Third layer particles.