I am presenting myself as the best person to write a report on smart systems and magnetostrictive actuators in aeronautical design. I am prepared to represent myself and any group I am affiliated with at the highest possible level. Be assured that I have the knowledge and background to be your expert in the field.
There are economic and technology opportunities simply waiting for the right group to capitalize on them. I am the individual who can lead that charge. Consider the potential applications of smart systems to control and modify local flowfields (Smith, 1998, 269-283). This offers interesting opportunities for improving the performance and/or operability of subsonic transports. These possibilities exist in both the private and governmental sectors (Advanced development of next actuators..., 2000).
The real world challenges to develop cost effective, low risk smart systems should be presented from the airframers perspective (Ashley, 1998). Possible flow control applications for cruise drag reduction, separation control, improved aircraft controllability, loads alleviation, noise control and improved propulsion system efficiency should be pursued (Robinson, 1997).
The potential applications areas for these emerging smart technologies include laminar flow control, active shaping, delay of buffet onset, flap system separation and flow reversals, nacelle induced flow separations, actuateable flow control devices, and variable area exhaust nozzles (ARO in Review, 1998).
Decisions to incorporate any smart system into a commercial transport product will be based on the economic tradeoffs between the relative performance and operability improvements and the overall cost of ownership and the return on investment (Hitchcox, 1998).
The design of these devices is straightforward. The idea is to squeeze a rod of Terfenol-D into a metal tube whose bore size is just slightly smaller than the rod's diameter. The next p...