Shape Memory Alloys Application: Trailing Edge Shape Control

Abstract

Following several studies in the field of Active or Smart materials and Structure (SMS) (material characterization, simulation of performances), Dassault Aviation has proposed, in the frame of a European project, to evaluate the capabilities of Smart Materials and Structures applied to an adaptive divergent trailing edge of a High Altitude Unmanned Air Vehicle. A demonstrator of this adaptive trailing edge has been designed and manufactured. An original actuation concept has been developed based on a mixed system made of push-pull SMA (Shape Memory Alloy) wires connected to mechanical links that actuate the trailing edge. Functional tests were performed on the demonstrator in the Argenteuil Dassault Aviation laboratory, including characterization at low temperature. From this experimental campaign and from the subsequent analysis, the initial specifications have been fulfilled in term of force, deflection, actuation time, energy consumption and temperature range. This shows that the design is adequate and could be applied to an existing air vehicle. Nevertheless, some improvement would be useful on the SMA behaviour understanding and on their procurement.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2006
Accession Number
ADA479896

Entities

People

  • Benoit Berton

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Alloys
  • Altitude
  • Boundary Layer
  • Ceramic Materials
  • High Altitude
  • Low Temperature
  • Materials
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Shape Memory Alloys
  • Specifications
  • Trailing Edges
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Computer Vision.
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Software Engineering

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy