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. 2023 Jul 5;16(13):4832.
doi: 10.3390/ma16134832.

Shape Memory Alloys Applied to Automotive Adaptive Aerodynamics

Miriam Battaglia  1 , Andrea Sellitto  1 , Angela Giamundo  2 , Michele Visone  2 , Aniello Riccio  1
Affiliations

Shape Memory Alloys Applied to Automotive Adaptive Aerodynamics

Miriam Battaglia et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are gaining popularity in the fields of automotive and aerospace engineering due to their unique thermomechanical properties. This paper proposes a numerical implementation of a comprehensive constitutive model for simulating the thermomechanical behavior of shape memory alloys, with temperature and strain as control variables to adjust the shape memory effect and super elasticity effect of the material. By implementing this model as a user subroutine in the FE code Abaqus/Standard, it becomes possible to account for variations in material properties in complex components made of shape memory alloys. To demonstrate the potential of the proposed model, a skid plate system design is presented. The system uses bistable actuators with shape memory alloy springs to trigger plate movement. The kinematics and dynamics of the system are simulated, and effective loads are generated by the shape memory alloy state change due to the real temperature distribution in the material, which depends on the springs' geometrical parameters. Finally, the performance of the actuator in switching between different configurations and maintaining stability in a specific configuration is assessed. The study highlights the promising potential of shape memory alloys in engineering applications and demonstrates the ability to use them in complex systems with accurate simulations.

Keywords: FEM; actuators; adaptive aerodynamics; morphing; shape memory alloys.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Phase diagram of a shape memory alloy (σ-T diagram phase [44]).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Shape memory effect.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Pseudoelastic effect. (a) Tension vs. temperature relationship (orange lines for martensite phase and green lines for austenite phase); (b) Tension vs. deformation relationship.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Configurations. (a) Base model with air dam; (b) skid plate modification with mobile part (in red) and fixed part (in blue).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Skid plate configurations. (a) Deactivated configuration; (b) actuated configuration.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Velocity magnitude contour for the three configurations. (a) Base model; (b) deactivated configuration; (c) actuated configuration.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Skid plate system.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Linear actuator displacement. (a) First configuration; (b) second configuration.
Figure 9
Figure 9
A 12° rotation around the fixed hinge.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Identification of all components of the actuation mechanism.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Brackets at the location of the hinge, which connects the cover to the rest of the car.
Figure 12
Figure 12
Geometrical description. (a) Lateral view; (b) top view.
Figure 13
Figure 13
Detailed view of the SMA actuator.
Figure 14
Figure 14
(a) Central body; (b) SMA spring; (c) locking system.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Locking system description.
Figure 16
Figure 16
(a) FE model (skid plate is a “display body” with no mesh assigned); (b) boundary conditions.
Figure 17
Figure 17
The force required to move the entire mechanism and deformations of the various step movements. (a) Force—Displacement graph; (b) Gear wheel rotation mechanism observed at different time instances.
Figure 18
Figure 18
Von Mises distribution.
Figure 19
Figure 19
SMA Spring. (a) Force—timestep; (b) force—temperature.
Figure 20
Figure 20
Evolution of the martensite volume fraction in the SMA spring during the phase transformation.
Figure 21
Figure 21
SMA bias fixture dimensions. (a) Frontal view; (b) top view.
Figure 22
Figure 22
Experimental setup.
Figure 23
Figure 23
Experimental results. (a) Load history; (b) temperature history.
Figure 24
Figure 24
SMA-actuated skid plate full simulation. Displacement distribution.
Figure 25
Figure 25
SMA-actuated skid plate full simulation. Von Mises distribution.
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