Analytical Report: Smart Systems and
Magnetostrictive Actuators in Aeronautical Design
The purpose of this paper is to provide an application oriented state of the art review of smart materials and magnetostrictive actuators in aeronautical design. Smartness describes self adaptability, self sensing, memory, and multiple functionality of the materials or structures.
These characteristics provide numerous possible applications for these materials and structures in aerospace, manufacturing, civil infrastructure systems, and biomechanics. Active vibration and acoustic transmission control, active shape control, and active damage control are some of those areas which have found
attractive applications for smart materials and structures. Examples of specific applications are micro positioning, vibration isolation, fast acting valve and nozzles, transducers, luxury car shocks, and active engine mounts in aircrafts. System integration, mass and energy consumption reduction, elimination of moving parts in actuators, and collocation between actuator and sensor are some of the benefits of using smart materials. Those smart materials covered in this review are primarily piezoelectric, shape memory alloys, and magnetostrictive.
Until quite recently machinery tended to overcome resistance by dint of shear strength or power. Aircraft, while becoming more streamlined over the last 50 plus years, have tended to rely on more powerful engine components to overcome resistance and increase speed. The ability for computers to operate at ever increasing speeds has allowed detailed research into resistance, caused by turbulence. Overcoming turbulence, resistance, and drag has been the main spur behind more powerful aircraft. A solid grasp of turbulence can allow engineers to reduce the aerodynamic drag on commercial airliners, increase the maneuverability of a jet fighter or improve the fuel efficiency of an engine.
Along...