Design of two-way reversible bending actuator based on a shape memory alloy/shape memory polymer composite

作者：Taya Minoru^*; Liang Yuanchang; Namli Onur C; Tamagawa Hirohisa; Howie Tucker

来源：Smart Materials and Structures, 2013, 22(10): 105003.

DOI：10.1088/0964-1726/22/10/105003

The design of a reversible bending actuator based on a SMA/SMP composite is presented. The SMA/SMP composite is made of SMA NiTi wires with a bent %26apos;U%26apos;-shape in the austenite phase embedded in an epoxy SMP matrix which has a memorized flat shape. The bending motion is caused by heating the composite above T-Af to activate the NiTi recovery. Upon cooling, the softening from the austenite to R-phase transformation results in a relaxation of the composite towards its original flat shape. In the three-point bending measurement the composite was able to exhibit a reversible deflection of 1.3 mm on a support with a 10 mm span. In addition, a material model for predicting the composite%26apos;s deflection is presented and predicts the experimental results reasonably well. The model also estimates the in-plane internal force and the degree of the SMA phase transformation.

• 出版日期2013-10