Designing Microstructure in Ordered Polymer Actuators
Abstract
Traditional methods of creating dynamic structures, such as motors coupled to assemblies of engineering materials, yield dense systems incapable of replicating the functionality of lightweight natural structures. By comparison smart materials may enable low-density multifunctional structures. Despite significant advances in the field of stimuli-responsive materials, the poor load-bearing performance per weight of current stimuli-responsive materials continues to limit utility in engineering systems. We seek to demonstrate actuating composites in which programmed microstructure leads to reversible changes in shape and maximizes specific work capacity of the actuator. We propose to accomplish this by modifying stimuli-responsive liquid-crystal elastomers both microstructurally and chemically.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 11, 2017
- Source ID
- FA95501710328
Entities
People
- Taylor H. Ware
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Texas at Dallas