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Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications

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A special issue of Actuators (ISSN 2076-0825). This special issue belongs to the section "Actuator Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 25219

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Prof. Dr. Hongli Ji

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Guest Editor

State Key Laboratory of Mechanics and Control of Mechanical Structures, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Interests: piezoelectric actuators and sensors; SMA; smart structures; structural dynamics; sensing and control; structural vibration control; piezoelectric energy harvesting; adaptive aerostructures
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Smart structures have been widely applied in aerospace, civil engineering, ship, automobile, water conservancy and many other industries. The realization of intelligent functions depends on the development of sensors, actuators, controllers, etc. Shape memory alloys and piezoelectric materials are one of the most used materials in the regard, which play important roles in the applications of smart structures because of their many advantages. Much work has been done in both theoretical and experimental studies on shape memory alloys and piezoelectric actuators. For example, in theoretical research, the modeling of 3D shape memory alloys and the preparation of high-performance flexible piezoelectric actuators have achieved promising results. In terms of applications, shape memory alloys are used to deform aircraft structures in specific ways to optimize the aerodynamic performance of the aircraft, and piezoelectric materials are used as sensors and actuators for structural health monitoring as well as vibration and noise control, etc. To encourage further understanding and development of these two materials, this special issue is organized to collect original and innovative papers on topics including but not limit to the preparation, analysis, modeling of various types of shape memory alloys and piezoelectric actuators, and their applications in smart structures. Theoretical, numerical and experimental contributions are equally welcome.

Prof. Dr. Hongli Ji
Guest Editor

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 5089 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Two-Finger Gripper Actuated by Shape Memory Alloy for Applications in Automation Technology with Minimized Installation Space

by Tobias Schmelter, Lukas Bade and Bernd Kuhlenkötter

Actuators 2024, 13(10), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/act13100425 - 21 Oct 2024

Viewed by 821

Abstract

The increasing demand for innovative grippers and actuators for the automation sector encourages the development of new and innovative functional principles. Intelligent materials are particularly suitable for this purpose based on their high energy density. In this study, a two-finger gripper driven by shape memory alloys (SMA) for use in automation technology is presented. Previous grippers driven by SMA can only be found in the field of micro gripping due to the limited stroke generated by SMA. Based on a methodical product development, a new type of gripper was developed and is presented in this study, which can achieve an opening width comparable to conventional grippers based on transmission mechanisms. Two different variants of the gripper are shown and compared aiming to minimize the installation space and weight of the gripper. In addition to the design presentation, a prototype is built, and the functionality is demonstrated through various test series. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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28 pages, 8231 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Active Bonded Piezoelectric Repair Systems for Damaged Structures under Mechanical and Thermo-Mechanical Loads

by Mohammed Abdulla, Meftah Hrairi, Abdul Aabid, Nur Azam Abdullah and Muneer Baig

Actuators 2024, 13(10), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/act13100390 - 2 Oct 2024

Viewed by 549

Abstract

Active repair systems employing piezoelectric (PZT) patches have emerged as promising solutions for mitigating crack propagation and enhancing structural integrity in various engineering applications. However, the existing literature predominantly focuses on the application of PZT patches for repairing structures under mechanical loading. In this study, a finite element analysis (FEA) is employed to investigate the repair of a centre-cracked aluminium plate under both mechanical and thermo-mechanical loading conditions. This study explores the influence of key parameters, including temperature, PZT patch thickness, type of PZT material, adhesive material, and adhesive thickness, on the structural integrity and crack propagation behaviour. The results reveal significant differences in stress distribution and crack propagation tendencies under varying loading conditions and parameter settings. These findings emphasize the necessity of considering thermo-mechanical loading conditions and parameter variations when designing effective active repair systems. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into optimizing PZT patch-based repair strategies for improved structural integrity and crack mitigation in aerospace and other engineering applications under diverse loading scenarios. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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18 pages, 5705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Analysis and Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting from a Nonideal Portal Frame System including Nonlinear Energy Sink Effect

by Angelo M. Tusset, Dim B. Pires, Jose M. Balthazar, Maria E. K. Fuziki, Dana I. Andrade and Giane G. Lenzi

Actuators 2023, 12(7), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12070298 - 22 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1755

Abstract

This paper investigates, through numerical simulations, the application of piezoelectric materials in energy generation. The mathematical model describes a U-shaped portal frame system, excited by an engine with unbalanced mass and coupled to a nonlinear energy sink (NES), which is used as a passive vibration absorber. The influence of the piezoelectric material parameters used in the energy collection and the dimensioning parameters of the NES system is deeply analyzed in this paper. Numerical simulations are presented considering all combinations of the parameters of the piezoelectric material model and the NES. The system dynamics were analyzed through phase diagrams and the 0–1 test. The estimation of energy collection was carried out by calculating the average power. The numerical results show that a more significant potential for energy generation is obtained for certain combinations of parameters, as well as chaotic behavior in some cases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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23 pages, 6709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Crack-Growth Acoustic Emission Observed in Controlled-Stress-Intensity-Factor High-Cycle-Fatigue Tests

by Roshan Joseph and Victor Giurgiutiu

Actuators 2023, 12(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12030093 - 21 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1644

Abstract

Acoustic emission (AE) was monitored during stress intensity factor (SIF)-controlled high-cycle fatigue (HCF) tests on an aluminum 2024-T3 specimen with a fatigue crack growing at its center. The SIF control was implemented in such a manner that crack growth could be slowed down and even inhibited while the fatigue experiment continued. In the beginning, a specific type of AE signal was observed while the crack was allowed to grow to up to approximately 9.4 mm in length. Subsequently, the load was reduced in order to control the SIF value at the crack tip and to inhibit the crack growth. AE signals were recorded even when the crack stopped growing, although the specific signature of these AE signals was different from those observed when the crack was growing, as discussed in the text. The gist of the phenomenon reported in this article is that strong AE signals could still be observed even when the crack stopped growing. These latter AE signals could be due to rubbing and clapping of the crack faying surfaces. Travel analysis was consistently performed to ensure that these AE signals were originating from the crack, though not necessarily from the crack tip. In addition, absorbing clay wave dams were built around the crack region to inhibit boundary reflections and grip noise. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and Choi–Williams Transform (CWT) analysis were performed to classify the AE signals. It was observed that the AE signals related to crack growth were clearly different from the AE signals originating from the crack while the crack was not growing. Strong S0-mode Lamb wave components were observed in the crack-growth AE signals, whereas strong A0-mode Lamb wave components dominated the non-crack-growth AE signals. Pearson correlation clustering analysis was performed to compare the crack-growth and non-crack growth AE signals. We propose that the fatigue-crack faying surfaces may undergo rubbing and/or clapping during fatigue cyclic loading and thus produce strong AE signals that are registered by the AE system as hits, although the crack is not actually growing. The understanding of this phenomenon is very important for the design of the structural health monitoring (SHM) system based on AE-hit signal capture and interpretation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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18 pages, 6403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Training, Control and Application of SMA-Based Actuators with Two-Way Shape Memory Effect

by Renhao Liu, Chen Zhang, Hongli Ji, Chao Zhang and Jinhao Qiu

Actuators 2023, 12(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12010025 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2780

Abstract

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are widely used in aerospace, automobile, and other fields because of their excellent properties, such as large driving force and large deformation. A training method with a bidirectional memory effect is proposed for SMA actuators. The trained SMA units can be heated and cooled to change their shape (shorten and extend). The trained SMA is used as an actuator to drive the deformation of a structure. Due to the obvious hysteresis characteristics of SMA, a temperature-displacement hysteresis model based on the Preisach model is proposed in order to reduce the influence of hysteresis in the process of structural deformation. The F function method (FFM) is used for Preisach numerical implementation, and a PID control method is used for the precise control of structural deformation. Compared with the PID control method without hysteresis model, this method is superior to the PID control method in response speed and control accuracy. The maximum relative error of three target points in the experiment is 5.45%, which is better than the PID control method without this model. The hysteresis model can be applied to the displacement control of a SMA-based actuator. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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13 pages, 4029 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Mn Doping on the Microstructure and Electrical Properties of Potassium Niobate Ceramics Using Plasma Spraying

by Rui Gao, Weiling Guo, Hongxing Wang, Xuewu Li and Zhiguo Xing

Actuators 2022, 11(12), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/act11120343 - 23 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1794

Abstract

KNN piezoelectric ceramics are of great importance in the field of scientific research due to their high Curie temperature, good electrical properties, etc. The application of potassium sodium niobate K_0.5Na_0.5NbO₃ (KNN) is strictly limited due to the volatility of Na⁺ and K⁺ in KNN and its leakage current. In order to investigate the effect of Mn doping on KNN-based piezoelectric ceramic coatings, KNN and KNN-0.02Mn (KNMN) coatings were successfully prepared using a plasma spraying technique. The phase structure, microscopic morphology, and electrical properties of the coatings were studied in the research. The results showed that both the KNN and KNMN coatings had chalcogenide structures. The KNN coating had an orthogonal phase structure, whereas the KNMN coating had a tetragonal phase structure. Compared with the KNN coating, the microhardness of the KNMN coating was improved through doping with Mn ions. The doping of Mn ions could replace both the A and B sites in the KNN piezoelectric ceramics, further reducing the oxygen vacancies and leakage currents in the coating, and its dielectric properties were improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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13 pages, 3514 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fabrication and Actuation Performance of Selective Laser Melting Additive-Manufactured Active Shape-Memory Alloy Honeycomb Arrays

by Yuesheng Xu, Lei Qiu and Shenfang Yuan

Actuators 2022, 11(9), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/act11090242 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2071

Abstract

Shape-memory alloy (SMA) honeycomb arrays have drawn worldwide attention for their potential active applications in smart morphing wings. However, the manufacturing of complex active SMA honeycomb arrays via conventional processes is a difficult task, and the actuation performance of the honeycomb arrays has not yet been well–investigated. In this work, the active SMA honeycomb arrays were fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing, and their actuation performance was investigated. The results show that the SLM–fabricated active SMA honeycomb arrays can generate obvious actuation performance during the transformation and exhibit a higher maximum actuation stress of 2.53 MPa at a R/t ratio of 4 and a tensile pre–strain of 35%. This research will contribute to the design and further improvement of active SMA honeycomb arrays based on SLM additive manufacturing, promoting the engineering applications for smart morphing wings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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27 pages, 11655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An SSHC Interface Circuit for Energy Harvesting of Piezoelectric Flags

by Yuansheng Chen, Lichen Tong, Jianzhou Du, Hongli Ji and Pengcheng Zhao

Actuators 2022, 11(7), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/act11070175 - 22 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2051

Abstract

Piezoelectric flags have functions of both classic flags and energy harvesting, and are becoming a new research focus. Interface circuits that convert wind energy to electrical energy are the key component of piezoelectric flags. A new structure for piezoelectric flags was designed to generate vibration by wind induction. After theoretical analysis, only SEH (standard energy harvesting) and SSHC (synchronized switch-harvesting-on capacitors) interface circuits were found suitable for piezoelectric flags. Simulation in Multisim was performed to compare SEH and SSHC in different load resistance. Experiments were carried out using different wind speeds. The on-time and delay-time of each switch were controlled by the proposed control algorithm. Both simulation and experimental results indicate that the output voltage with SSHC is higher than the output voltage with SEH. When the resistance is 1700 kΩ and the wind speed is 24 m/s, the output power of SSHC can be increased by 45.63% compared with the SEH circuit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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14 pages, 2272 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Electrical Properties of Li⁺-Doped Potassium Sodium Niobate Coating Prepared by Supersonic Plasma Spraying

by Yaya Song, Yanfei Huang, Weiling Guo, Xinyuan Zhou, Zhiguo Xing, Dongyu He and Zhenlin Lv

Actuators 2022, 11(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/act11020039 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3226

Abstract

The current work aims to compare the effects of systematic A-site substitutions on the electrical properties of potassium sodium niobate (KNN)-based coating. The A-site elements were replaced by Li⁺ to form (K_0.4675Na_0.4675Li_0.065) NbO₃ (KNLN). The pure KNN coating and the Li⁺-doped potassium sodium niobate (KNLN) coating with dense morphology and single perovskite structure were successfully prepared by supersonic plasma spraying, and the phase composition, microscopic morphology and electrical properties of the two coatings were compared and analyzed in detail by XRD, XPS, three-dimensional morphology and SEM on an Agilent 4294A (Santa Clara, CA, USA) and FE-5000 wide-range ferroelectric performance tester. The results show that: as the polarization voltage increases, the pure KNN coating is flatter and fuller, but the leakage current is large. The KNLN coating has a relatively long hysteresis loop and is easily polarized. The domain deflection responds faster to the external electric field, and the resistance of the domain wall motion to the external electric field is small. The dielectric constant of KNLN coating is 375, which is much higher than that of the pure KNN coating with 125, and the dielectric loss is stable at 0.01, which is lower than that of pure KNN coating at 0.1–0.35. This is because Li⁺ doping has successfully constructed a polycrystalline phase boundary in which O-T phases coexist, and has higher dielectric properties, piezoelectric properties and ferroelectric properties. At the same time, due to the high-temperature acceleration process in supersonic plasma spraying, the violent volatilization of the alkaline elements Li⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ leads to the presence of oxygen vacancies and part of Nb⁴⁺ in the coating, which seriously affects the electrical properties of the coating. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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11 pages, 28380 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Study on Properties of Potassium Sodium Niobate Coating Prepared by High Efficiency Supersonic Plasma Spraying

by Longlong Zhou, Xuewu Li, Dongyu He, Weiling Guo, Yanfei Huang, Gengchao He, Zhiguo Xing and Haidou Wang

Actuators 2022, 11(2), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/act11020028 - 18 Jan 2022

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 3402

Abstract

In order to realize the construction of environmentally friendly potassium sodium niobate ceramic coating on metal surface, potassium sodium niobate ceramic coating was prepared by supersonic plasma spraying technology. The morphology, element extension and phase structure of such coating were investigated. The dielectric and ferroelectric properties were also analyzed. The results show that the coating has good quality and tetragonal phase structure. When test frequency ≥ 2 MHz, the dielectric constant is stable at about 300, and also dielectric loss is stable at about 0.05. The coating exhibits good hysteresis loops under different applied electric fields. When the applied electric field is 16 KV/cm, residual polarization value of as-prepared coating reaches 17.02 μC·cm⁻². Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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Review

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34 pages, 15308 KiB

Open AccessReview

Review on the Nonlinear Modeling of Hysteresis in Piezoelectric Ceramic Actuators

by Yingli Dai, Dequan Li and Dong Wang

Actuators 2023, 12(12), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/act12120442 - 28 Nov 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2568

Abstract

Piezoelectric ceramic actuators have the advantages of fast response speed and high positioning accuracy and are widely used in micro-machinery, aerospace, precision machining machinery, and other precision positioning fields. However, hysteretic nonlinearity has a great influence on the positioning accuracy of piezoelectric ceramic actuators, so it is necessary to establish a hysteretic model to solve this problem. In this paper, the principles of the Preisach model, the Prandtl Ishilinskii (PI) model, the Maxwell model, the Duhem model, the Bouc–Wen model, and the Hammerstein model and their application and development in piezoelectric hysteresis modeling are described in detail. At the same time, the classical model, the asymmetric model and the rate-dependent model of these models are described in detail, and the application of the inverse model corresponding to these models in the feedforward compensation is explained in detail. At the end of the paper, the methods of inverse model acquisition and control frequency of these models are compared. In addition, the future research trend of the hysteresis model is also prospected. The ideas and suggestions highlighted in this paper will guide the development of piezoelectric hysteresis models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Shape Memory Alloys and Piezoelectric Materials and Their Applications)

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