Electrodynamic Testing System and 3D Profilometers for Research on Self-Morphing Smart Skins for Hydrodynamic Drag Control and Antifouling
Abstract
This DURIP proposal seeks the acquisition of an instrumentation system for the enhancement of the research capabilities of the ongoing project Adaptive Texture and Shape Modulation of a Soft Skin from Bio-inspired Coiled Actuators, currently funded by the Office of Naval Research (award No N00014-19-1-2136), with PI Caterina Lamuta. This project is focused on the design, modeling, manufacturing, and characterization of a soft smart skin able to perform texture and shape modulation through the actuation of Twisted and Coiled Artificial Muscles (TCAMs) embedded into an elastomer matrix. The proposed device finds applications in several fields relevant to the Office of Naval Research, such as self-morphing structures for the hydrodynamic drag control of underwater vehicles and robots, anti-fouling technologies for underwater surfaces, and wearable smart material systems for the artificial camouflage of soldiers, vehicles, and equipment. The proposed system is composed of three items. The first item is a TestResources 800M electrodynamic testing system. This equipment will be used for the viscoelastic characterization of both TCAMs and elastomer matrices at high frequency and temperature. The experimental results will be used to develop a detailed theoretical model to describe the TCAMs actuation and the performance of the self-morphing device. The testing system currently available in the PIs SMMS (Smart Multifunctional Material Systems) Lab allows only elastic characterization at room temperature that leads to an approximated theoretical modeling. The second item consists of a Keyence VR-5200 3D Profilometer with white light technology. This equipment will be used to compare a measured 3D shape with a target shape and calculate the 3D mismatch errors distribution with a resolution of 100 nm. The errors distribution will be used to modify the input voltage of each TCAMs in order to match the target shape. The SMMS Lab is currently equipped with high-speed cameras that allow the monitoring of different shapes from different fields of view. However, this method has extremely limited resolution and does not allow real time control of the output shape through feedback process. The third item is a Keyence VK-X1000 3D Profilometer with laser scanning confocal microscopy technology. This equipment, characterized by a resolution of 0.5 nm, and able to scan all types of materials (including transparent and wet media) will be used to measure the thicknesm. There is no equipment currently available in the SMMS Lab to measure marine biofilms thickness and test the anti-fouling performance of the proposed device.The SMMS research group is composed of two PhD students, seven undergraduate students, and one visiting scholar. The instrumentation system described above will be also used to train these students, currently involved in the manufacturing, modeling, and characterization of TCAMs and TCAMs-based shape morphing devices. Moreover, the system described in this proposal will be also used in the course ME: 4200, Modern Engineering Materials for Mechanical Design, developed by the PI for undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering at the University of Iowa. Topics on smart materials system for texture and shape modulation are covered in this course. The instrumentation system described in this proposal will be used to offer lab demonstrations to the ME: 4200 students concerning testing and control of self-morphing structures. During these demonstrations, students will become familiar with research topics related to self-morphing structures, such as drag-control and anti-fouling technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 29, 2020
- Source ID
- N000142012224
Entities
People
- Caterina Lamuta
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of Iowa