It is often impossible for design engineers to decide whether it is possible to use shape memory alloys (SMA) for a particular task. In case of a decision to use SMA for product development, design engineers normally do not know in detail how to proceed in a correct and beneficial way. In order to support design engineers who have no previous knowledge about SMA and to assist in the transfer of results from basic research to industrial practice, an essential knowledge and method base has been developed. Through carefully conducted literature studies and patent analysis material and design information could be collected. All information is implemented into a computer supported knowledge and method base that provides design information with a particular focus on the conceptual and embodiment design phase. The knowledge and method base contains solution principles and data about effects, material and manufacturing as well as design guidelines and calculation methods for dimensioning and optimization. A browser-based user interface ensures that design engineers have immediate access to the latest version of the knowledge and method base. In order to ensure a user friendly application, an evaluation with several test users has been carried out. Reactions of design engineers from the industrial sector underline the need for support related to knowledge on SMA.
An advantage of shape memory alloys (SMAs) is their potential to generate integrated actuator systems with a shape memory component. This can be accomplished for example by activating the thermal shape memory effect in selected regions of the SMA-component. We refer to this process as partial activation. The purpose of the present study is to find a way to create universal actuators with properties adjustable for various applications solely by partial activation. Thus, an object of investigation is the analysis of properties and capabilities of partial activation. Furthermore this study also implicates the survey of possibilities for partial power supply and electrical contacting. One possibility to use partial activation in integrated systems is given by the agonist-antagonist design. This type of design offers the advantage that a return spring or a mechanical brake for clamping the position without feeding electrical power is not necessary. On the other hand retention force is limited by the martensitic plateau and positioning accuracy by the elastic portion of mechanical stress. To solve these problems with constructive or control-oriented solutions is furthermore an aim of this study. Another approach is to use partial activation for influencing passive superelastic structures like hinges, dampers, or return elements by changing the austenitic plateau stress in integrated systems. To create a multifunctional integrated system, the NiTi-elements presented in this study offer various options since they apply partial activation both for thermal shape memory and for influencing super elasticity.
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