Submitted by Kilvya Braga (kilvyabraga@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-23T13:59:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SUELENE SILVA ARAÚJO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2015.pdf: 3709690 bytes, checksum: 1d6f1a6f3675dd7c45fb2cd75c6c92bf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-23T13:59:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SUELENE SILVA ARAÚJO - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2015.pdf: 3709690 bytes, checksum: 1d6f1a6f3675dd7c45fb2cd75c6c92bf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-07 / CNPq / Neste trabalho foi avaliado o comportamento dinâmico e a fadiga termomecânica de fios de uma liga com memória de forma (LMF) CuAlNi submetidos a ensaios cíclicos utilizando um analisador dinâmico mecânico (DMA). Assim, foram realizadas análises para determinar a capacidade de amortecimento e o módulo de elasticidade dos fios e adicionalmente a fadiga estrutural sob controle de deformação em modo de flexão simples alternada, a partir da variação da amplitude de deslocamento, para três temperaturas distintas. O comportamento dinâmico revelou uma considerável capacidade de amortecimento dos fios, principalmente durante a transformação de fase martensitica, apresentando um expressivo pico de absorção de energia. Além disso, o módulo de elasticidade (rigidez) apresentado pelos fios revelou a existência de um importante aumento durante a transformação, diferenciando as duas distintas fases. Notou-se também a partir dos resultados dos ensaios de fadiga que as características funcionais dos fios dependem de forma direta da amplitude de deformação imposta, influenciando nos valores de tensão e no tempo de vida dos fios, revelando que a fadiga pode ser considerada de baixo ciclo. / This study evaluated the dynamic behavior and the thermomechanical fatigue of CuAlNi SMA wires subjected to cyclic tests using a DMA device. Therefore, analyzes were performed to determine the damping capacity and stiffness of SMA wires, in addition to structural fatigue under strain control from the amplitude variation at three different temperatures. The evolution of the wire’s behavior has shown a considerable damping capacity, mainly during the martensitic phase transformation, presenting a significant peak of energy absorption. Moreover, the storage modulus (stiffness), revealed a significant increase during transformation, differentiating the distinct phases. It has been also noted, from the results of fatigue tests, that the functional behavior of the SMA wires depend directly on the amplitude of the imposed strain, influencing on the stress values as well as on the wire’s lifetime, revealing that fatigue can be considered of low cycle type.

Submitted by Kilvya Braga (kilvyabraga@hotmail.com) on 2018-04-26T14:31:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 YURI JOSÉ OLIVEIRA MORAES - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2017.pdf: 4856362 bytes, checksum: 1833eec6cc553ca6e2578b9a019e362b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-26T14:31:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 YURI JOSÉ OLIVEIRA MORAES - DISSERTAÇÃO (PPGEM) 2017.pdf: 4856362 bytes, checksum: 1833eec6cc553ca6e2578b9a019e362b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-15 / Capes / As vibrações de natureza mecânica são fenômenos importantes do mundo físico. Geralmente, tais oscilações podem se tornar indesejáveis de tal forma a vir a causar danos temporários ou o próprio colapso de sistemas mecânicos e estruturais. Com o intuito de conter estes efeitos, tem-se pesquisado técnicas que venham a controlar e/ou minimizar as implicações deste fenômeno, que vão desde métodos de natureza passiva, até o uso de controladores com materiais inteligentes. Este estudo tem como objetivo, analisar um sistema de controle passivo de vibrações instalado em uma estrutura que simula um edifício de dois andares e dois graus de liberdade (2GDL). Este sistema é baseado na incorporação de duas configurações de minimolas superelásticas (LMF–NiTi–SE), para dissipação de energia e acréscimo de amortecimento estrutural. Uma análise modal e estrutural foi realizada para avaliar o comportamento do sistema, a partir de métodos analíticos, numéricos e experimentais. Em caráter experimental, as amplitudes de resposta da estrutura foram analisadas para solicitações do sistema em vibração livre, forçada e transiente (sísmica), em todas as configurações. Em comparação com a estrutura com molas de aço convencional, as análises das FRF’s em vibração forçada mostraram uma redução na transmissibilidade de até 51% para o primeiro modo de vibrar e 73% para o segundo modo na configuração de quatro minimolas individuais LMF, e estes valores aumentaram para 55% e 85% respectivamente, na configuração de oito minimolas duplas LMF. Quanto aos fatores de amortecimento, houve um aumento considerável da ordem de 119% no primeiro modo e de 109% no segundo modo de vibração, na configuração das minimolas individuais LMF. Na caracterização dinâmica determinaram-se a energia dissipada nas frequências naturais e amplitude de deformação, validando a análise e o método de controle passivo empregado. / Mechanical vibrations are important phenomena of the physical world. Generally, such oscillations may become undesirable in such a way as to cause temporary damage or the actual collapse of mechanical and structural systems. In order to contain these effects, we have researched techniques that will control and/or minimize the implications of this phenomenon, ranging from passive methods to the use of controllers with smart materials. This study aims to analyze a passive vibration control system installed in a structure that simulates a two floors building and two degrees of freedom (2DOF). This system is based on the incorporation of two superelastic mini coil springs configurations (SMA–NiTi–SE) for energy dissipation and increase of structural damping. A modal and structural analysis was performed to evaluate the behavior of the system, from analytical, numerical and experimental methods. On an experimental basis, the response amplitudes of the structure were analyzed for system requirements in free, forced and transient (seismic) vibration in all configurations. Compared with the conventional steel spring structure, the forced vibration FRF’s analysis showed a reduction in transmissibility of up to 51% for the first vibrating mode and 73% for the second mode in the four mini coil springs individual configuration SMA. And these values increased to 55% and 85% respectively, in the eight mini coil springs double configuration SMA. As for the damping factors, there was a considerable increase in the order of 119% in the first mode and 109% in the second mode of vibration, in the mini coil springs individual configuration SMA. In the dynamic characterization the energy dissipated in the natural frequencies and amplitude of deformation was determined, validating the analysis and the passive control method employed.

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-26T21:22:44Z No. of bitstreams: 1 FERNANDO ANDRADE AMORIM - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEM 2014..pdf: 6350093 bytes, checksum: 23c947f61b48ed2613bf915ed058b600 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-26T21:22:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 FERNANDO ANDRADE AMORIM - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEM 2014..pdf: 6350093 bytes, checksum: 23c947f61b48ed2613bf915ed058b600 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-08 / CNPq / Capes / Ligas de NiTi têm possibilitado revolucionar muitos projetos tradicionais de engenharia com suas propriedades únicas de superelasticidade (SE) e efeito de memória de forma (EMF). Com o interesse em incorporar esses materiais em diferentes aplicações e dispositivos, o desenvolvimento de tecnologia eficaz para soldagem de ligas NiTi torna-se necessário, devido ao fato de esse tipo de união proporcionar a fabricação das mais diferentes formas geométricas e combinações entre materiais similares e dissimilares. Nesse contexto, este estudo teve como objetivo geral determinar as variações das propriedades termomecânicas em juntas soldadas de fios de NiTi. Para o trabalho, fios superelásticos de uma LMF NiTi (ASTM F2063) com 0,4 e 0,9 mm de diâmetro, foram divididos em dois grupos: (a) fios sem tratamento térmico (NiTiA) e (b) fios com tratamento térmico a 400 °C durante 20 minutos (NiTi400). Em seguida estes fios foram soldados pelo processo TIG autôgeno, utilizando a soldadora Micromelt (EDG Equipamentos e Controles). A caracterização termomecânica dos fios íntegros e soldados foi realizada utilizando ensaios de calorimetria diferencial de varredura (DSC), análise dinâmico-mecânica (DMA), ensaios de tração uniaxial em diferentes temperaturas (30°C a 70°C), microscopia óptica (MO), microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e micro indentação Vickers. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram uma boa eficiência do processo TIG ao soldar os fios NiTi de ambos os grupos. Ensaios de DSC relevaram que o processo de soldagem pode promover modificações de natureza metalúrgica aos fios de NiTi, de maneira a reduzir as temperaturas de transformações de fase. Já no que diz respeito ao aspecto mecânico, os fios soldados apresentaram resistência a ruptura por tração de até 750 MPa (NiTiA ~ 70 °C) e valores de deformações de até 8,5 % (NiTiA). / NiTi alloys enabled revolutionize many traditional engineering projects with uniques properties of superelasticity (SE) and shape memory effect (SME). Interested on incorporating these materials in different applications and devices, developments of efficient welding technology for NiTi alloys becomes necessary due to the fact that this type of process can provide many differents geometric shapes and combinations of similar and dissimilar materials. In this context, this study had as main objective to determine variations in thermomechanical properties for NiTi welded wires. For this work, superelastic NiTi SMA wire (ASTM F2063) with 0.9 to 0.4 mm in diameter were divided into two groups: (a) wires without heat treatment (NiTiA) and (b) heat treated wires at 400 ° C for 20 minutes (NiTi400). Then, these wires were welded by autogenous welding process, using the Micromelt machine (EDG, Equipment and Controls). The thermomechanical characterization of as received and as welded wires was performed by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) uniaxial tensile test at different temperatures (30°C to 70°C), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Vickers micro indentation. The results showed a good efficiency of TIG welding for every NiTi wire studied groups. DSC curves demonstrates that welding process can cause a metallurgical changes into NiTi wires, promoting changes in phase transformation temperatures. The mechanical properties of the welded wire presented a tensile rupture strength of 750 MPa (NiTi~70 °C) and strain values up to 8.5% (NiTiA).

Submitted by Johnny Rodrigues (johnnyrodrigues@ufcg.edu.br) on 2018-04-27T15:46:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ESTEPHANIE NOBRE DANTAS GRASSI - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEM 2014..pdf: 4659811 bytes, checksum: 9dce2fd88b57abcccbb5be6fa913cf1b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-27T15:46:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ESTEPHANIE NOBRE DANTAS GRASSI - DISSERTAÇÃO PPGEM 2014..pdf: 4659811 bytes, checksum: 9dce2fd88b57abcccbb5be6fa913cf1b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-08-01 / CNPq / Capes / As Ligas com Memória de Forma (LMF) são um importante grupo de materiais metálicos ativos que respondem a estímulos termomecânicos por meio dos fenômenos do Efeito Memória de Forma (EMF) e da Superelasticidade (SE). Ambos os efeitos permitem recuperar grandes níveis deformações por meio de aquecimento, no primeiro caso, ou do descarregamento mecânico, no segundo. As LMF de NiTi são facilmente encontradas no mercado médico e odontológico em forma de ferramentas e acessórios para tratamentos específicos. Um destes elementos são minimolas helicoidais ortodônticas de NiTi, que alcançam deformações algumas centenas de vezes maiores que elementos unidimensionais de LMF, como fios. Por outro lado, é de amplo conhecimento que uma técnica adequada para manipular propriedades mecânicas de produtos metálicos acabados, além de variar-se a configuração geométrica, é a realização de tratamentos térmicos de recozimento. Principalmente após a realização de trabalho a frio, os recozimentos são capazes de recuperar parcial ou totalmente a mobilidade atômica no metal, o que, no caso das LMF, afeta diretamente o seu comportamento termomecânico. Neste contexto, o principal objetivo deste trabalho é estudar a influência de tratamentos térmicos de recozimento sobre a resposta termomecânica de minimolas de LMF NiTi, originalmente superelásticas. Um planejamento fatorial foi usado para avaliar a influência das variáveis temperatura e tempo de recozimento sobre algumas das principais propriedades termomecânicas das minimolas: constante de mola (rigidez), módulo de elasticidade transversal, capacidade de dissipação de energia, temperaturas de transformação, histere térmica e a entalpia de transformação. Foi demonstrado que tratamentos térmicos a temperaturas na faixa de 500 oC a 600 oC são capazes de converter as minimolas de LMF NiTi do estado superelástico para o estado de atuador, pelo aparecimento do efeito memória de forma. / Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are an important group of metallic active materials that respond to thermomechanical stimuli through the Shape Memory Effect (SME) or the Superelasticity (SE) phenomena. Both these effects are capable of retrieving large amounts of strain by simple heating, in the former case, or simple mechanical unload, in the latest case. The SMA of the NiTi family composition exhibit superior properties when compared to other compositions, including biocompability, what brings this alloy to be widely used in medical and orthodontic fields in the form of tools and accessories to specific treatments. As an example, mini coil springs of NiTi SMA presenting superelasticity reach strain levels hundreds of times higher than one-dimensional elements, such as wires. However, a more suitable technique to manipulate mechanical properties of metallic finished products is the use of heat treatments like annealing. Mainly after experiencing cold working processes, annealing treatments are capable of partially or totally recover the atomic mobility, witch directly affects thermomechanical response of SMA. In this context, this dissertation work aims to study the influence of annealing heat treatments over thermomechanical behavior of SMA NiTi mini coil springs originally presenting the SE. A factorial design was used to evaluate the influence of temperature and time of annealing over some of the main thermomechanical springs’ properties: spring constant (stiffness), shear modulus, energy dissipation capacity, phase transformation temperatures, thermal hysteresis and transformation enthalpy availability. It was demonstrated that heat treatments between 500°C and 600°C are capable of converting the superelastic state of the mini coil springs to an actuator state, as a result of the shape memory effect appearance.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In recent times, much research effort has been undertaken aiming at the development of the so-called smart materials, understood as those that exhibit coupling between two or more physical domains in such a way that, when stimulated externally, they undergo controlled variations of some of their properties, such as viscosity, stiffness, volume or electrical conductivity. The degree of maturity of the technology of smart materials and structures is confirmed by numerous examples of applications found in industrial products. The present work is dedicated to the study of shape memory alloys, which are considered as being some of the most promising smart materials in terms of potentiality for industrial innovation. Those materials present the capacity of, once submitted to external loads, recovering their original form and dimensions through the application of thermal cycles or by removing the load. This behavior is due to two effects exhibited by those materials: shape memory and pseudoelasticity. The present dissertation reports the study carried-out by the author concerning some of the most relevant constitutive models intended for the description of the thermomechanical behavior of shape memory alloys, based on assumed transformation kinetics and on internal variables with constraints. The understanding of such models is considered to be essential for the development of modeling procedures of intelligent devices. After the description of the potentiality of applications of the shape memory alloys in the context of the smart material and structures technology and the assessment of the most relevant phenomenological aspects, specially the underlying phase transformations, the formulations of some constitutive models, chosen among those considered to be the most representative ones, are described, namely: models with assumed transformation kinetics (Tanaka, Liang-Rogers, Brinson, and Boyd-Lagoudas models) and models based on internal variables with constraints (modified Fremond and Savi and coauthors models). Numerical simulations are carried-out with the aim of evaluating the main features of the models considered and validating the numerical implementations by comparisons with results extracted from the literature. Afterwards, the analytical developments and numerical simulations regarding the incorporation of the Liang- Rogers model in a single-degree-of-freedom vibrating system are presented, enabling to evaluate the interest in using shape memory alloys for the purpose of vibration control. The study reported herein has been developed in the context of the National Institute of Science and Technology of Smart Structures in Engineering, leaded by the Structural Mechanics Laboratory Prof. J.E.T. Reis, of the School of Mechanical Engineering of the Federal University of Uberlândia, which is dedicated to the study of the foundations and applications of intelligent materials to various problems of engineering as well as to multidisciplinary problems. / Ultimamente tem-se investido grande esforço em pesquisas com vistas ao desenvolvimento dos chamados materiais inteligentes, entendidos como aqueles que exibem acoplamento de dois ou mais domínios físicos, de modo que, quando externamente estimulados, sofrem alterações controladas de algumas propriedades como a viscosidade, volume, rigidez, resistência elétrica e condutividade. O grau de amadurecimento da tecnologia de materiais e estruturas inteligentes é comprovado pela existência de numerosos exemplos de utilização em produtos industriais. O presente trabalho é dedicado ao estudo das ligas com memória de forma (shape memory alloys), que são considerados como um dos materiais inteligentes mais promissores no tocante às inovações industriais. Trata-se de materiais que possuem a capacidade de, uma vez submetidos a cargas externas, recuperar sua forma e dimensões originais quando sujeitos a ciclos térmicos apropriados ou quando o carregamento é retirado. Esses materiais apresentam duas propriedades especiais que os diferenciam dos outros materiais, a memória de forma, propriamente dita, e a pseudoelasticidade. O presente memorial reporta o estudo desenvolvido pelo autor acerca de alguns dos principais modelos constitutivos que foram desenvolvidos para a representação do comportamento termomecânico de materiais com memória de forma. A compreensão destes modelos é essencial para o desenvolvimento de procedimentos de modelagem de dispositivos inteligentes. Após a descrição das potencialidades de aplicação no contexto da tecnologia de estruturas inteligentes e da fenomenologia subjacente ao comportamento das ligas com memória de forma, notadamente as transformações de fase austenitamartensita, apresentam-se as formulações de alguns modelos constitutivos, selecionados dentre aqueles considerados os mais representativos, incluídos em duas categorias distintas, a saber: modelos com cinética de transformação assumida (modelos de Tanaka, de Liang-Rogers, de Brinson, e de Boyd-Lagoudas) e modelos baseados em variáveis internas (modelos de Fremond modificado e de Savi e colaboradores). Em seguida, são apresentados resultados de simulações numéricas realizadas com o objetivo de avaliar as principais características dos modelos estudados e validar as implementações realizadas mediante confrontação com resultados extraídos da literatura. Por fim, são apresentados os desenvolvimentos analíticos e simulações numéricas realizadas para incorporação do modelo de Liang-Rogers em um sistema vibratório de um grau de liberdade, que permitiu comprovar o potencial de utilização dos materiais com memória de forma para o controle de vibrações. O estudo realizado se insere nas atividades desenvolvidas no âmbito do Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Estruturas Inteligentes em Engenharia, sediado pelo Laboratório de Mecânica de Estruturas Prof. José Eduardo Tannús Reis - LMEst, da Faculdade de Engenharia Mecânica da UFU, que se dedica ao estudo dos fundamentos e aplicações de materiais inteligentes em diversos tipos de problemas de engenharia e problemas multidisciplinares. / Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica

Magnetische Formgedächtnislegierungen sind Festkörper, die eine Phasenumwandlung erster Ordnung von einer hochsymmetrischen Phase (Austenit) zu einer niedersymmetrischen Phase (Martensit) durchlaufen. Dies kann in der Nähe von Raumtemperatur stattfinden und sowohl durch Temperaturänderung, als auch durch äußere Magnetfelder, mechanische Spannungen oder hydrostatischen Druck induziert werden. Daraus ergeben sich funktionale Eigenschaften, wie der magnetokalorische und der elastokalorische Effekt, eine magnetfeldinduzierte Dehnung und ein großer Magnetowiderstand. Zwillingsgrenzen im Martensit können durch äußere Magnetfelder bewegt werden, was zu großen reversiblen Längenänderungen führt. Der Ablauf der Phasenumwandlung und das Gefüge des Martensits werden dabei durch die elastischen Randbedingungen an der Phasengrenze bestimmt. In dieser Arbeit werden deshalb die Nukleation und das Wachstum des Martensits untersucht. Als Modellsystem werden epitaktische Schichten der Heuslerlegierung Ni-Mn-Ga verwendet. In der martensitischen Phase weist diese Legierung eine modulierte Kristallstruktur auf, die im Konzept des adaptiven Martensits durch eine Verzwillingung auf der atomaren Skala interpretiert werden kann. Im ersten Teil wird mit Röntgenbeugung die modulierte Struktur untersucht. Die Intensität der Überstrukturreflexe wird mit einer kinematischen Beugungssimulation verglichen. Dabei wird nachgewiesen, dass es sich um ein nanoverzwillingtes Gefüge mit einer hohen Dichte an Stapelfehlern handelt. Im zweiten Teil wird das martensitische Gefüge mit Elektronenbeugung im Rasterelektronenmikroskop und Texturmessungen durch Röntgenbeugung untersucht. Das martensitische Gefüge kann im Rahmen der phänomenologischen Martensittheorie quantitativ erklärt werden. Daraus ergibt sich ein geometrisches Modell des martensitischen Nukleus und seiner Wachstumsstadien. Die Phasenumwandlung wird temperaturabhängig im Elektronen- und im Atomkraftmikroskop untersucht und mit dem geometrischen Modell verglichen. Die begrenzte Gültigkeit des geometrischen Modells an makroskopischen Zwillingsgrenzen und an der Grenzfläche zum Schichtsubstrat werden diskutiert. Schließlich kann die Bildung des gesamten hierarchischen Zwillingsgefüges erklärt werden. Im dritten Teil wird die Energiebarriere der Nukleation untersucht. Da die Umwandlung bei konstanter Temperatur abläuft, wird geschlussfolgert, dass Autonukleationsprozesse zu einer starken Verringerung der Nukleationsbarrieren führen. Schließlich wird gezeigt, dass durch Nanoindentation die Nukleation gezielt beeinflusst werden kann. / Magnetic shape memory alloys are solids that undergo a first order phase transition from a high symmetry phase (austenite) into a low symmetry phase (martensite). This can happen close to room temperature and can be induced by changes of temperature, external magnetic fields, mechanical stresses or hydrostatic pressure. This leads to functional properties like the magnetocaloric and elastocaloric effect, a magnetic-field-induced strain and giant magnetoresistance. Twin boundaries in the martensite can be moved by external magnetic fields, which leads to giant reversible length changes. The process of the phase transition and the microstructure of martensite are determined by the elastic boundary conditions at the phase interface. In this work, nucleation and growth of the martensite are studied. Epitaxial films of the Heusler alloy Ni-Mn-Ga are used as a model system. This alloy exhibits a modulated crystal structure which is interpreted as twinning on the atomic scale in the framework of adaptive martensite. In the first part, the modulated structure is studied by X-ray diffraction. The intensity of the superstructure is compared to a kinematic diffraction simulation and it is shown that it is a nanotwinned microstructure with a high density of stacking faults. In the seond part, the martensitic microstructure is studied by electron diffraction in the scanning electron microscope and by texture measurements using X-ray diffraction. The martensitic microstructure can be explained quantitatively in the framework of the phenomenological theory of martensite. This leads to a geometrical model of the martensitic nucleus and its growth stages. The phase transformation is studied as a function of temperature in the scanning electron microscope and atomic force microscope and is compared to the geometric model. The limits of the geometrical model at macroscopic twin boundaries and at interfaces to the substrate are discussed. Finally, the formation of the entire twin microstructure can be explained. In the third part, the energy barrier of nucleation is studied. The transformation is isothermal which leads to the conclusion that autonucleation processes decrease the nucleation barrier significantly. Finally, the influence of nanoindentation on the nucleation is shown.

La rigidité est un des objectifs de performance les plus importants pris en compte lors de la conception de systèmes robotiques. Le contrôle de la raideur physique en cours de tâche est une problématique scientifique en plein essor dans le cadre de la conception innovante de robots à forte polyvalence. L’association d’une structure robotique compliante et d’un composant en alliage à mémoire de forme (AMF) est réalisée dans le but d’obtenir des cartes de compliance variables dans le temps sur un même espace de travail. Les AMF sont en effet des matériaux actifs qui possèdent des caractéristiques comportementales pouvant être exploitées dans cette application. La structure considérée pour l’étude n’a pas de degré de liberté interne mais sa déformation permet de créer un pseudo-espace de travail. Celui-ci diffère selon l’état activé/non-activé de l’AMF. L’intersection des deux espaces obtenus représente alors les positions de l’effecteur où il est possible d’avoir des valeurs de compliance différentes. Les cartes obtenues montrent des caractéristiques intéressantes pour la perspective de la conception de robots polyvalents ayant une nouvelle forme de reconfigurabilité basée sur le changement de propriétés matérielles. / The rigidity is one of the most important performance targets which is taken into account for the design of robotic systems. The control of the physical stiffness during industrial tasks is a scientific issue which is rapidly expanding in the context of the innovative design of highly polyvalent robots. The combination of a compliant robotic structure and a shape memory alloy (SMA) component is carried out in the aim of obtaining variable compliance maps over time and in the same workspace. SMAs are actually active materials with specific thermomechanical properties which can be used in this application. The considered structure has no internal degree of freedom, but the deformation of the arms allows the creation of a “Pseudo-Workspace” (PWS). This PWS varies as a function of the activated/non-activated state of the SMA component. The intersection of the two obtained PWSs represents the effector’s positions where it is possible to have different compliance values. Generated maps show interesting characteristics in the perspective of the design of polyvalent robots based on a new type of reconfigurability (change of material properties).

This thesis reports transport in ultrathin single crystalline nanowires of gold (∼ 2nm). These nanowires were fabricated using an oriented attachment process whereby nanoparticles of appropriate dimensions join in a linear fashion to form long and stable wires. The main motivation was to study the role of electron-electron interactions on the transport mechanism in case of a metallic system, as one approaches dimensions closer to the Fermi wavelength. The study forms the first of its kind in a simple metallic system of this dimension. Indeed, several new features have been obtained in this regard: Chapter 4 reports a breakdown of Fermi liquid state in such a system opening up possibilities of exotic states constituted by a strongly correlated Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid. We report consistent scaling of current-voltage curves, characteristic of such a phase and even resonant tunneling in such structures. The study reports the first observation of a correlated electron liquid in a metal, which has been observed only in semiconductors and polymer wires till date. Chapter 5 discusses the possibility of tuning the transport mechanism in these wires via a controlled change in the growth process. We show that using appropriate growth mechanisms, we can have a localized ground state as well, where variable range hopping is the dominant transport mechanism. Possibility of structural transitions in ultrathin wires is a field that has garnered considerable interest due to simulations. We present a highly sensitive tool in the form of electrical noise and its higher order statistics that can act as a detector of structural transitions. This has been thoroughly studied in case of conventional shape memory systems in Chapter 6. Preliminary noise studies on the nanowires have been reported in Chapter 7.

Les alliages à mémoire de forme (AMF) font partie des matériaux qui ont besoin d'une caractérisation de leur comportement sous sollicitations dynamiques afin de pouvoir être intégrés dans des solutions de conception de structures prévues pour l'absorption d'énergie ou pour subir de grandes déformations à des régimes de vitesses équivalents à des impacts. Même si les phénomènes mis en jeu dans ce type de matériau commencent à être maîtrisés, la caractérisation de leur comportement en dynamique est un point qui nécessite encore beaucoup d'études d'approfondissement. Leurs propriétés singulières et leur bonne capacité d'absorption d'énergie font d'eux de bons candidats à l'application dans des technologies innovantes et motivent la poursuite de leur étude. Ces travaux de thèse présentés dans ce manuscrit portent sur un AMF à base de Nickel-Titane (NiTi).Les deux propriétés singulières principales des AMF sont la superélasticité (ou pseudo-élasticité) et l'effet mémoire. La propriété sur laquelle cette étude se concentre est la superélasticité : celle-ci correspond à une transformation martensitique activée par une sollicitation mécanique.Afin de pouvoir caractériser le NiTi pour des applications soumises à des impacts ou à des sollicitations dynamiques, il est nécessaire de pouvoir, dans un premier temps, observer la transformation martensitique pour ces régimes et de tenir compte de ces résultats pour l'élaboration de lois de comportement.Ces travaux de thèse, essentiellement expérimentaux, s'inscrivent dans la mise en place d'un projet visant à pouvoir prédire le comportement des alliages à mémoire de forme soumis à des sollicitations dynamiques multiaxiales et sont centrés sur trois thèmes : les AMF, les essais de traction dynamique, la corrélation d'image pour les essais aux barres de Hopkinson et pour la mesure de la transformation martensitique des AMF. / The specific properties of the shape memory alloys are mainly due to the martensitic transformation occuring in the material turning the austenitic phase into a stress-induced martensitic phase when mechanical or thermal loadings are applied. This study focus on pseudoelasticity which allows SMAs to recover their initial state after undergoing large deformation. when a mechanical load is experienced.This study is focused on the behavior of SMAs under dynamic loading. Several experimental methods were developped : a Split Hopkinson Tensile Bar (SHTB) was set up and digital image correlation (DIC) was adapted to this case and allows us to measure heterogeneous strain fields on the surface specimen due to martensitic transformation.This work present a lot of experimental results and aim at helping researchers to develop behaviour models of SMAs for dynamic loading. The DIC was also adapted to fast imaging measure and Hopkinson bar tests, providing complementary results to the forces and velocities obtained with the bars.

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit the ability to absorb large dynamic loads and, therefore, are excellent candidates for structural components where impact loading is expected. Compared to the large amount of research on the shape memory effect and/or pseudoelasticity of polycrystalline SMAs under quasi-static loading conditions, studies on dynamic loading are limited. Experimental research shows an apparent difference between the quasi-static and high strain rate deformation of SMAs. Research reveals that the martensitic phase transformation is strain rate sensitive. The mechanism for the martensitic phase transformation in SMAs during high strain rate deformation is still unclear. Many of the existing high strain rate models assume that the latent heat generated during deformation contributes to the change in the stress-strain behavior during dynamic loading, which is insufficient to explain the large stress observed during phase transformation under high strain rate deformation. Meanwhile, the relationship between the phase front velocity and strain rate has been studied. In this dissertation, a new resistance to phase transformation during high strain rate deformation is discussed and the relationship between the driving force for phase transformation and phase front velocity is established. With consideration of the newly defined resistance to phase transformation, a new model for phase transformation of SMAs during high strain rate deformation is presented and validated based on experimental results from an austenitic NiTi SMA. Stress, strain, and martensitic volume fraction distribution during high strain rate deformation are simulated using finite element analysis software ABAQUS/standard. For the first time, this dissertation presents a theoretical study of the microscopic band structure during high strain rate compressive deformation. The microscopic transformation band is generated by the phase front and leads to minor fluctuations in sample deformation. The strain rate effect on phase transformation is studied using the model. Both the starting stress for transformation and the slope of the stress-strain curve during phase transformation increase with increasing strain rate.