Thermoelastic control of adaptive composites for aerospace applications using embedded nitinol actuators

Aerospace structures have stringent pointing and shape control requirements during long-term exposure to a hostile environment with no scheduled maintenance. This makes them excellent candidates for a smart structures approach as current passive techniques prove insufficient. This study investigates the feasibility of providing autonomous dimensional control to aerospace structures by embedding shape memory alloy elements inside composite structures. Increasing volume fractions of nitinol wire were embedded in cross-ply graphite/ epoxy composite panels. The potential of this approach was evaluated by measuring the change in longitudinal strain with increasing temperature and volume fraction. Reduction of thermal expansion is demonstrated and related to embedded volume fraction. Classical lamination theory is used to formulate a two-dimensional model which included the adaptive properties of the embedded nitinol. The model was used to predict the increased modulus and reduction of thermal strain in the modified plates which was verified by the experimental data.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Electrical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1996

Author dc:creator

• Lenahan, Kristie M.

• aerospace structures
• shape memory alloy elements

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-10012008-063036

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/44955