Adaptive Composite Structure Using Shape Memory Alloys
First Claim
1. A pre-form comprising tows made of thermoplastic material interwoven with tapes or wires made of shape memory alloy.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and processes that integrate thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials to form an adaptive composite structure capable of changing its shape. For example, the adaptive composite structure may be designed to serve as a multifunctional adaptive wing flight control surface. Other applications for such adaptive composite structures include in variable area fan nozzles, winglets, fairings, elevators, rudders, or other aircraft components having an aerodynamic surface whose shape is preferably controllable. The material systems can be integrated by means of overbraiding (interwoven) with tows of both thermoplastic and shape memory alloy materials or separate layers of each material can be consolidated (e.g., using induction heating) to make a flight control surface that does not require separate actuation.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A pre-form comprising tows made of thermoplastic material interwoven with tapes or wires made of shape memory alloy.
- 2. A system comprising a mandrel having an exterior surface and a pre-form in contact with said exterior surface and supported by said mandrel, wherein said pre-form comprises thermoplastic material and shape memory alloy.
- 7. An aerodynamic device comprising first and second skins, each of said first and second skins comprising shape memory alloy and thermoplastic material.
-
15. A method for fabricating a composite structure comprising:
-
overbraiding a heat-expandable mandrel with tows of thermoplastic material and tapes or wires made of shape memory alloy; placing the overbraided mandrel between first and second susceptors disposed between first and second tooling dies of an induction heating workcell; energizing one or more induction coils of the induction heating workcell to produce alternating magnetic fields which cause the first and second susceptors to produce heat, which heat in turn melts the thermoplastic material, softens the shape memory alloy, and expands the mandrel; de-energizing the induction coils of the induction heating workcell after the thermoplastic material has been consolidated to a desired degree and a composite structure has been formed; removing the mandrel and composite structure from the induction heating workcell; and separating the mandrel from the composite structure. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for fabricating a composite structure comprising:
-
placing a pre-form around and in contact with an exterior surface of a heat-expandable mandrel, wherein the pre-form comprises thermoplastic material and shape memory alloy; placing the mandrel and pre-form between first and second susceptors disposed between first and second tooling dies of an induction heating workcell; energizing one or more induction coils of the induction heating workcell to produce alternating magnetic fields which cause the first and second susceptors to produce heat, which heat in turn melts the thermoplastic material, softens the shape memory alloy, and expands the mandrel; de-energizing the induction coils of the induction heating workcell after the thermoplastic material has been consolidated to a desired degree and a composite structure has been formed; removing the mandrel and composite structure from the induction heating workcell; and separating the mandrel from the composite structure. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification