Composite structure adapted for controlled structural deformation
First Claim
1. A composite structure adapted for controlled structural deformation, the composite structure comprising:
- a plurality of composite material layers; and
a shape memory alloy component embedded within said composite material layers, said shape memory alloy component comprising;
a shape memory alloy tendon having a relaxed shape at temperatures below a transition temperature and a contracted shape at temperatures above the transition temperature; and
first and second face sheets adhered to opposite sides of said shape memory alloy tendon, said first and second face sheets being comprised of an insulating material to thereby electrically isolate said shape memory alloy tendon from said surrounding composite material layers;
wherein said shape memory alloy component is embedded within said composite material layers such that said shape memory alloy tendon is accessible for external actuation thereof, and wherein actuation of said shape memory alloy tendon by raising the temperature of said shape memory alloy tendon above the transition temperature creates a controlled sttructural deformation of both said shape memory alloy component and said surrounding composite material layers.
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Abstract
A composite structure and related fabrication method is provided which has a plurality of composite material layers and at least one embedded shape memory alloy component for providing controlled structural deformation. The shape memory alloy component includes a shape memory alloy tendon having a relaxed shape at temperatures below a predetermined transition temperature and a contracted shape at temperatures above the predetermined transition temperature. The shape memory alloy component also comprises a pair of electrically insulating opposing face sheets adhered to opposite sides of the shape memory alloy tendon to electrically isolate the shape memory alloy tendon from the surrounding composite material layers. The shape memory alloy component is embedded within the plurality of composite material layers such that raising the temperature of the shape memory alloy tendon above the transition temperature creates a controlled structural deformation of both the shape memory alloy component and the surrounding composite material layers.
160 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A composite structure adapted for controlled structural deformation, the composite structure comprising:
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a plurality of composite material layers; and a shape memory alloy component embedded within said composite material layers, said shape memory alloy component comprising; a shape memory alloy tendon having a relaxed shape at temperatures below a transition temperature and a contracted shape at temperatures above the transition temperature; and first and second face sheets adhered to opposite sides of said shape memory alloy tendon, said first and second face sheets being comprised of an insulating material to thereby electrically isolate said shape memory alloy tendon from said surrounding composite material layers; wherein said shape memory alloy component is embedded within said composite material layers such that said shape memory alloy tendon is accessible for external actuation thereof, and wherein actuation of said shape memory alloy tendon by raising the temperature of said shape memory alloy tendon above the transition temperature creates a controlled sttructural deformation of both said shape memory alloy component and said surrounding composite material layers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A shape memory alloy component adapted to be embedded within a composite structure, the shape memory alloy component comprising:
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a shape memory alloy tendon having a relaxed shape at temperatures below a transition temperature and a contracted shape at temperatures above the transition temperature; first and second face sheets disposed on opposite sides of said shape memory alloy tendon, said first and second face sheets being comprised of a thermoplastic material to thereby electrically isolate said shape memory alloy tendon from the composite structure in which the resulting shape memory alloy component is embedded; and adhesive disposed between said first and second face sheets and about said shape memory alloy tendon to thereby form an integral shape memory alloy component adapted to be embedded within a composite structure such that actuation of said shape memory alloy tendon by raising the temperature of said shape memory alloy tendon above the transition temperature creates a controlled structural deformation of both the shape memory alloy component and the composite structure. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification