Research Article Open Access

Biomechanically Inspired Shape Memory Effect Machines Driven by Muscle like Acting NiTi Alloys

Raffaella Aversa1, Francesco Tamburrino1, Relly Victoria V. Petrescu2, Florian Ion T. Petrescu2, Mateus Artur3, Guanying Chen4 and Antonio Apicella1
  • 1 Advanced Material Lab, Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, Second University of Naples, 81031 Aversa (CE), Italy
  • 2 ARoTMM-IFToMM, Bucharest Polytechnic University, Bucharest, (CE), Romania
  • 3 CDRSP, Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, Leiria, Portugal
  • 4 Harbin Institute of Technology and SUNY Buffalo, China

Abstract

The research shows a bioinspired approach to be adopted to design of systems based on Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs), a class of Smart Materials that has in common with muscles the capability to react to an impulse (thermal for SMAs) with a contraction. The biomechanically inspired machine that is discussed in the paper refers to the antagonistic muscles pairs, which belongs to the Skeletal Muscles and are normally arranged in opposition so that as one group of muscles contract another group relaxes or lengthens. The study proposes a model, a solution not only to design a specific application, but also to provide an approach to be used for a wide range of adaptive applications (switchable windows, smart shadow systems, parking and urban shelters, etc.), where the shape changes in response to different external stimuli. The use of antagonist pairs mechanism provides a solution for better optimized systems based on SMAs where the main and proven advantages are: Easier and faster change of shape, lower need of energy for system operation, lower cost for SMA training and no problem of overheating.

American Journal of Applied Sciences
Volume 13 No. 11, 2016, 1264-1271

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2016.1264.1271

Submitted On: 7 November 2016 Published On: 24 November 2016

How to Cite: Aversa, R., Tamburrino, F., Petrescu, R. V. V., Petrescu, F. I. T., Artur, M., Chen, G. & Apicella, A. (2016). Biomechanically Inspired Shape Memory Effect Machines Driven by Muscle like Acting NiTi Alloys. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 13(11), 1264-1271. https://doi.org/10.3844/ajassp.2016.1264.1271

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Keywords

  • Smart Factory
  • Centrifugal Pipe
  • Process Control
  • Glass Reinforced Plastics
  • Chemo-Rheology