Thermo-mechanical coupling in Nitinol. Application to an electro-morphing plate

Abstract

As part of the EMMAV research program the SMA technology was studied as well as its application as an actuator for electro-active morphing wings. As a first step a theoretical model of the applied SMAs, a structure of Titanium and Nickel, was developed in order to predict the behaviour over time and temperature when electrified by an electric field. The developed model was experimentally verified on a single SMA wire. Secondly a plate made out of PEEK was equipped with SMAs and the effects on the flow were studied as the plate deformed by SMA actuation. Finally an experiment was conducted in order to analyze possible SMA performance improvements. The experiments showed the improvements of the cooling response of the SMAs when forced convection is applied.