Intelligent morphing structures will revolutionize micro-robotics, wearable technology, and tiny electro-mechanical systems. The ideal morphing structure is thin and flexible with the ability to deform and sense its surroundings. Biological organisms provide the inspiration for this kind of technology. By developing a low-profile film that changes shape and detects ambient conditions, it will provide leeway to mimicking the way organisms move throughout various mediums and terrains, while deliberating their next actions according to the current environment and the actions that they have previously attempted. This dissertation will introduce carbon nanotube buckypaper as a key material in facilitating intelligent morphing schemes. In this research, a scalable manufacturing process for producing buckypaper composite actuators is introduced. The process can produce large batches of actuators at a time; this is critical for designing complex morphing structures in the future. The research also includes the electro-chemical modelling of the buckypaper composite actuator. Many researchers have introduced their own designs for actuators; however, most actuators lack the sensing component needed to be considered in morphing structures. This research will introduce a scalable method for buckypaper strain sensors as well. The sensors can detect micro-strains with higher sensitivity than commercial strain gauges. They can also detect finger movements and micro-strains in carbon composite materials. The overall objective is to synchronize the two devices so that a closed-loop system can provide corrections to the actuators movements. This research is essential to progressing low-profile morphing structures. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Summer Semester 2018. / May 15, 2018. / Carbon Nanotubes, Morphing Structures, Nanotechnology, Scalable Manufacturing, Structural Health Monitoring, Wearable Sensors / Includes bibliographical references. / Zhiyong (Richard) Liang, Professor Directing Dissertation; Simone Peterson Hruda, University Representative; Pierre-Jean Cottinet, Committee Member; Changchun (Chad) Zeng, Committee Member; Arda Vanli, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_650691 |
| Contributors | DeGraff, Joshua (author), Liang, Zhiyong (professor directing dissertation), Hruda, Simone Peterson (university representative), Cottinet, Pierre-Jean (committee member), Zeng, Changchun (committee member), Vanli, Omer Arda (committee member), Florida State University (degree granting institution), College of Engineering (degree granting college), Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (degree granting departmentdgg) |
| Publisher | Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text, doctoral thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (107 pages), computer, application/pdf |
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