Application of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators to Vibration and Motion Control of Structural Systems: A Review

Constrained Force Control of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

Experimental results are presented to show that SMA actuators are able to control forces both rapidly and precisely. An antagonistic pair of constrained actuators is shown to be capable of rapidly changing the setpoint throughout a 7.00 N range. Although the system entered into a limit cycle at the setpoint, the limit cycle magnitude was small. The peak to peak amplitude of the limit cycles was...

Variable Structure Control of Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

A novel Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator consisting of several thin NiTi bers woven in a counter rotating helical pattern around supporting disks is rst described. This structure accomplishes a highly e cient transformation between force and displacement overcoming the main mechanical drawback of shape memory alloys, that being limited strain. Time domain open loop experiments were then conduc...

Vibration of a Shape Memory Alloy Wire

Shape memory alloy actuators and their reliability

We have developed two types of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator and estimated the long-term reliability of SMA microcoils. A tube type tip articulator consists of 4 sets of SMA microcoil (wire diameter: 0.125 mm, coil diameter: 0.5 mm) for driving source and super elastic alloy (SEA) microcoils (wire diameter: 0.1 mm, coil diameter: 0.5 mm) for bias springs, support plates and flexible outer t...

Application of Shape Memory Alloys in Seismic Isolation: A Review

In the last two decades, there has been an increasing interest in structural engineering control methods. Shape memory alloys and seismic isolation systems are examples of passive control systems that use of any one alone, effectively improve the seismic performance of the structure. Characteristics such as large strain range without any residual deformation, high damping capacity, excellent re...