Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of thermal insulation and wind velocity on the SMA actuator for morphing applications

  • Published:
Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper presents the modeling and simulation of shape memory alloy (SMA) wire actuators for morphing micro air vehicles (MAVs) when exposed to high-velocity wind during flight. The specific operating conditions include thermal insulation, varying convective heat-transfer coefficients due to wind velocity, aerodynamic loads, and operation from MAV battery. Application-oriented modeling parameters were determined from a flyable morphing MAV. The simulation could dynamically generate the morphing angle as a function of the electrical input pulse duty cycle. The model showed that compared with 10 % duty cycle, a 25 % duty cycle achieves an energy saving of 33 % and an increase in actuation speed of 3.7 times. Further, increasing the duty cycle has a negligible improvement in energy saving, but the actuation rate is increased by 15.8 times. The SIMULINK® model, which was validated through the ground test, would help in the design of SMA actuators and controllers for aerospace vehicles and automobiles.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

Dt :

Duty cycle of the pulse train

θ D :

Droop angle or morphing angle in degree

VS :

Voltage across SMA in volts (V)

VB :

Battery voltage of MAV (V)

QI :

Heat input to SMA (°CW−1)

QL :

Heat loss from SMA (°CW−1)

R INS :

Thermal resistance between SMA wire and sleeve

R CONV :

Thermal resistance between sleeve and ambient

Nu:

Nusselt number

Re :

Reynold’s number

TS :

SMA wire temperature

TS :

SMA wire temperature above ambient

TI :

Insulation sleeve temperature

T∞ :

Free stream air temperature

\(\bar\sigma\) :

Piola-Kirchoffs stress

σ :

Cauchy or the true stress

ξ :

Extent of phase transformation

\(\bar\epsilon\) :

Green strain (strain due to Piola-Kirchoffs stress)

References

  1. T. A. Schroeder, I. Cornelis and C. M. Wayman, The shape memory effect and in polycrystalline Cu-Zn alloys pseudoelasticity, Metall. Trans. A, 7 (4) (1976) 535–553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. K. N. Melton, Ni-Ti based shape memory alloys, Eng. Asp. shape Mem. Alloy., 344 (1990) 21–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. S. Barbarino, E. I. S. Flores, R. M. Ajaj, I. Dayyani and M. I. Friswell, A review on shape memory alloys with applications to morphing aircraft, Smart Mater. Struct., 23 (6) (2014) 63001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. C. M. Jacson, 55-Nitinol-the alloy with a memory: Its physical metallurgy, properties and applications, NASA-SP-5110, 15 (1972).

  5. C. Liang and C. A. Rogers, One-dimensional thermomechanical constitutive relations for shape memory materials, J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct., 8 (4) Apr. (1997) 285–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. V. Prakruthi, G. M. Kamalakannan and C. S. Shivaraj, Study of different modelling techniques of SMA actuators and their validation through simulation, ICERECT - 2018 (2018) preprint (ISBN: 978-981-13-5802-9).

    Google Scholar 

  7. C. N. Saikrishna, K. V. Ramaiah and S. K. Bhaumik, Effects of thermo-mechanical cycling on the strain response of Ni-Ti-Cu shape memory alloy wire actuator, Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 428 (1-2) (2006) 217–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. D. Thulasi Durai, S. R. Viswamurthy, S. Balasubramani, C. Rohit and G. N. Dayananda, Grid based construction of a composite micro air vehicle airframe, J. Aerosp. Sci. Technol., 62 (2) (2010) 132–140.

    Google Scholar 

  9. R. Guruganesh, B. Bandyopadhyay, H. Arya and G. K. Singh, Design and hardware implementation of autopilot control laws for MAV using super twisting control, J. Intell Robot Syst., 90 (2018) 455–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. K. Tanaka, A thermomechanical sketch of shape memory effect: One-dimensional tensile behavior, Res. Mech., 18 (1986) 251–263.

    Google Scholar 

  11. C. P. Kothandaraman, Heat and Mass Transfer Data Book, New Age International (2004).

    Google Scholar 

  12. M. G. Faulkner, J. J. Amalraj and A. Bhattacharyya, Experimental determination of thermal and electrical properties of Ni-Ti shape memory wires, Smart Mater. Struct., 9 (5) (2000) 632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J. Matthey, Nitinol Technical Specifications: Discover the Unique Properties of Nitinol, http://jmmedical.com/resources/221/Nitinol-Technical-Properties.html (2017).

    Google Scholar 

  14. N. T. B. Hoang, Computational investigation of variation in wing aerodynamic load under effect of aeroelastic deformations, J. Mech. Sci. Technol., 32 (10) (2018) 4665–4673.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. G. M. Kamalakannan, G. K. Singh and C. M. Ananda, Versatile control of multiple morphing surfaces of micro air vehicle with reduced weight and optimized power consumption, Third Int. Conference on Circuits, Control, Communication and Computing (2018), Doi: https://doi.org/10.1109/CIMCA.2018.8739704.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Jithendra J Jadhav, Director NAL for the continuous support, and Dr. Dayananda G.N, Head CSMST for the motivation, support, discussions, and suggestions. We would also like to thank Dr. Aran. S for checking the thermodynamic equations, Mr. Thulasi Durai, Mr. Ramesha, K., Mr. Aran, P. and team-CSMST, NAL for their support. Our sincere thanks also go to the NPMASS program of the Govt. of India for funding the initial phase of this work and Dr. Bhaumik, S.K. and his team, NAL for providing the SMA wires.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Societal Missions and Special Technologies, CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    G. M. Kamalakannan

  2. Visveswaraya Technological University, Belagavi, Karnataka, India

    G. M. Kamalakannan

  3. Flight Mechanics and Controls Division, CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    Giresh Kumar Singh

  4. Aerospace Electronics and Space Division, CSIR-NAL, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

    C. M. Ananda

Authors
  1. G. M. Kamalakannan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giresh Kumar Singh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. C. M. Ananda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to G. M. Kamalakannan.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Hugo Rodrigue

G. M. Kamalakannan has M.Tech. in Electronics Engg. from VTU and he currently pursuing Ph.D. He is a Senior Principal Scientist at CSMST, NAL. He has over twenty years of experience in the design, development and commercialization of electronics, control and instrumentation systems and application software for aerospace composites process equipment, which include aerospace grade autoclave, multi zone hot bonder and automated resin infusion system. He has also lead a project on morphing wing micro air vehicle and his research interests include application of smart materials.

Giresh Kumar Singh has B.Tech. and M.Tech. in Aerospace Engg. and Ph.D in Electrical Engg. from IIT-Kanpur. He is currently a Senior Principal Scientist in the Flight Mechanics & Control Division of CSIR-NAL. He has been involved in the design, development, and testing of flight control laws for civil & military aircraft. He has several journal publications to his credit. His research interests include flight dynamics of aerial vehicles, design of flight control algorithms and optimization.

C. M. Ananda did his Ph.D. in Embedded Avionics. He has handled projects at national and international level with a budget of over 30 crores. He is currently a Professor and the Head of Aerospace Electronics and Systems Division, Ac-SIR and a Chief Scientist. He has to his credit number of awards for excellent project execution of various projects, NAL Technology shield award and many more. He has 9 journal publications and 28 conference publications along with one book chapter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kamalakannan, G.M., Singh, G.K. & Ananda, C.M. Influence of thermal insulation and wind velocity on the SMA actuator for morphing applications. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 4459–4468 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0842-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0842-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation