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Towards High-Frequency Shape Memory Alloy Actuators Incorporating Liquid Metal Energy Circuits

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Abstract

Large shape memory alloy (SMA) actuators are currently limited to applications with low cyclic actuation frequency requirements due to their generally poor heat transfer rates. This limitation can be overcome through the use of distributed body heating methods such as induction heating or by accelerated cooling methods such as forced convection in internal cooling channels. In this work, a monolithic SMA beam actuator containing liquid gallium–indium alloy-filled channels is fabricated through additive manufacturing. These liquid metal channels enable a novel multi-physical thermal control system, allowing for increased heating and cooling rates to facilitate an increased cyclic actuation frequency. Liquid metal flowing in the channels performs the dual tasks of inductively heating the surrounding SMA material and then actively cooling the SMA via forced internal fluid convection. A coupled thermoelectric model, implemented in COMSOL, predicts a possible fivefold increase in the cyclic actuation frequency due to these increased thermal transfer rates when compared to conventional SMA forms having external heating coils and being externally cooled via forced convection. The first ever experimental prototype SMA actuator of this type is described and, even at much lower flow rates, is shown to exhibit a decrease in cooling time of 40.9%.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported in part by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research under grant number FA9550-16-1-0087, titled Avian-Inspired Multifunctional Morphing Vehicles monitored by Dr. BL Lee. The authors would like to acknowledge Bing Zhang, Emery Sheahan, and Marcela Cabral Seáñez for their critical work towards this effort. The authors work also would like to acknowledge both James “Jim” Mabe and Frederick “Tad” Calkins of The Boeing Company for their support and guidance regarding testing hardware.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Darren Hartl, Jacob Mingear, Brent Bielefeldt, John Rohmer & Jessica Zamarripa

  2. Industrial and Systems Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA

    Alaa Elwany

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  1. Darren Hartl
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  2. Jacob Mingear
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  3. Brent Bielefeldt
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Correspondence to Darren Hartl.

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Hartl, D., Mingear, J., Bielefeldt, B. et al. Towards High-Frequency Shape Memory Alloy Actuators Incorporating Liquid Metal Energy Circuits. Shap. Mem. Superelasticity 3, 457–466 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40830-017-0137-9

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