Thesis (MTech (Technology : Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2006 / Recent years have witnessed a tremendous growth and significant advances
in "smart" composites and "smart" composite structures. These smart
composites integrate active elements such as sensors and actuators into a
host structure to create improved or new functionalities through a clever
choice of the active elements and/or a proper design of the structure. Such
composites are able to sense a change in the environment and make a useful
response by using an external feedback control system. Depending on their
applications. smart composites usually make use of either the joint properties
of the structure or the properties of the individual elements within the
composites. The accumulation in the understanding of materials science and
the rapid developments in computational capabilities have provided an even
wider framework for the implementation of multi-functionality in composites
and make "smart" composites "intelligent".
This thesis is a contribution towards the global endeavour to innovate using
smart structures to enhance our everyday lives. One of the phenomena of
shape memory alloys. the shape memory effect was put to use in the
development of an active surface. Here the pre-stressed shape memory alloy
(in its de-twinned martensitic state) is surrounded or embedded in a non-SMA
matrix material. This active surface can be used in a variety of applications
that requires active shape control to change the shape of a flexible structure member such as a submarine stem, aerospace control surfaces and aircraft
wings.
An experimental protocol was developed to treat or stabilize shape memory
alloys that are used as actuators within composite structures. Shape memory
alloys exhibit complex behaviour during their quasi-plastic material response.
The complex behaviour includes variability in yield values and the
transformation region/range.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:cput/oai:localhost:20.500.11838/1268 |
| Date | January 2006 |
| Creators | Saal, Sheldon Chrislee |
| Publisher | Cape Peninsula University of Technology |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/za/ |
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