Regulation – 2017 (CBCS Scheme) SMARTMATERIALS AND MEME – 17ME745

MODULE-1
Unit1:Introduction: Closed loop and Open Loop Smart Structures. Applications of Smart structures,
Piezoelectric properties. Inchworm Linear motor, Shape memory alloys, Shape memory Effect-Application,
Processing and characteristics.

MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY
Impact on the evaluation of human civilization & a history of material. The history of material consists of Stone
age, Bronze age, Iron age, Synthetic material age & the present century is onSmart Materials. It is evident the
synthetic materials make a superior performance with characteristics makes a further development in space
applications. The smart material is characterised (or) catalysed by the technology of Material Science,
Biotechnology, Biomimetic, Nanotechnology, Neural network & Artificial Intelligence.

INTRODUCTION TO THE SMART MATERIALS

A smart material are the structures that can sense the external disturbance & respond to that with active control
in a real time, smart structure consists of active devices primarily sensors & actuators embedded (or) attached to
an existing passive structure. Depending on the characteristic the smart structures involves & expected operating
condition, the section of sensors & actuators considerably.

THE SMART MATERIALS

The smart materials are the materials which are intelligent material responds with a change in shape upon
application of externally applied driving force. The term smart material describes a group of material system
with a unique property some material system does not exhibits a shape change but rather have other significant
properties.

There are a number of types of smart material, some of which are already common. Some
examples are as following:

Piezoelectric materials
Shape-memory alloys and shape-memory polymers
Magnetostrictive materials
Electstrictive materials
Magneto Relogical fluids
Electro Relogical fluids
Temperature-responsive polymers
Halochromic materials
Photomechanical materials
Dielectric elastomers (DEs)

1. Piezoelectric materials are materials that produce a voltage when stress is applied. Since this effect also
applies in the reverse manner, a voltage across the sample will produce stress within the sample. Suitably
designed structures made from these materials can therefore be made that bend, expand or contract when
a voltage is applied.

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2. Shape-memory alloys and shape-memory polymers are materials in which large deformation can be
induced and recovered through temperature changes or stress changes (pseudoelasticity). The shape
memory effect results due to respectively martensitic phase change and induced elasticity at higher
temperatures.

3. Magnetostrictive materials exhibit change in shape under the influence of magnetic field and also exhibit
change in their magnetization under the influence of mechanical stress. Magnetic shape memory alloys
are materials that change their shape in response to a significant change in the magnetic field.

4. Halochromic materials are commonly used materials that change their colour as a result of changing
acidity. One suggested application is for paints that can change colour to indicate corrosion in the metal
underneath them.

5. Thermoelectric materials are used to build devices that convert temperature differences into electricity
and vice versa.

6. A magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid, or MRF) is a type of smart fluid in a carrier fluid, usually a type
of oil. When subjected to a magnetic field, the fluid greatly increases its apparent viscosity, to the point
of becoming a viscoelastic solid. Importantly, the yield stress of the fluid when in its active ("on") state
can be controlled very accurately by varying the magnetic field intensity. The upshot is that the fluid's
ability to transmit force can be controlled with an electromagnet, which gives rise to its many possible
control-based applications. MR fluid is different from a ferrofluid which has smaller particles. MR fluid
particles are primarily on the micrometre-scale and are too dense for Brownian motion to keep them
suspended (in the lower density carrier fluid). Ferrofluid particles are primarily nanoparticles that are
suspended by Brownian motion and generally will not settle under normal conditions. As a result, these
two fluids have very different applications.

7. Electrorheological (ER) fluids are suspensions of extremely fine non-conducting but electrically active
particles (up to 50 micrometres diameter) in an electrically insulating fluid. The apparent viscosity of
these fluids changes reversibly by an order of up to 100,000 in response to an electric field. For example,
a typical ER fluid can go from the consistency of a liquid to that of a gel, and back, with response times
on the order of The normal application of ER fluids is in fast acting hydraulic valves and clutches, with
the separation between plates being in the order of 1 mm and the applied potential being in the order of 1
kV. In simple terms, when the electric field is applied, an ER hydraulic valve is shut or the plates of an
ER clutch are locked together, when the electric field is removed the ER hydraulic valve is open or the
clutch plates are disengaged. Other common applications are in ER brakes (think of a brake as a clutch
with one side fixed) and shock absorber (which can be thought of as closed hydraulic systems where the
shock is used to try to pump fluid through a valve).

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CONTROL LOOP SYSTEM

The major function of the loop systems is to detect the changes in the input side and make a changes in the
output side accordingly with a set points. The control system can be classified into
Open Loop System
Close Loop System
OPEN LOOP SYSTEM
The system which doesn’t consists of no feedback type of continuous system which influences the output neither
measuring nor feedback for comparison of input then these systems are referred as open loop system.
In an open loop system self-correcting & error detection with respect to the system is difficult. The main
characteristics of an open loop system is there is no comparison between the actual and desired values, the open
loop system there is no any control action over the output values. Changes & disturbances with respect to the
external condition does not results in the direct output change.

CLOSE LOOP SYSTEM

It is also known as a feedback control system, which controls the input depending up on the output. The close
loop system is desirable to automatically achieve and to maintain the desired output condition by comparing
with the actual input. The main characteristic of the closed loop system is to reduce the errors by automatically
adjusting the system, to improve the stability of the unstable system, to encourage the system sensitivity and also
helps in repeatable performances.

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SMART STRUCTURES
Smart structures of the structures which are identification of the structure behaviour or the properties of the
control the structural response to the external stimulate. The component of the smart structures is data aquisition,
data transmission and data instruction.
Data acquisition aims for collection of the required data needed for appropriate sensing and monitoring of the
structure.
Data transmission is a process which forwards the data in the form of command and to the control unit.
Data instruction instructs the function device to transmit the decision and associated instructions back to the
structures

PIEZO ELECTRIC MATERIALS

Piezo electric materials are the ceramic materials which are polycrystalline material where the material changes
its dimensions when a supply is given to it. The ceramic may be made up of piezo electric in any chosen
direction the material gets vibrating. The examples are QUARTZ, BERLINITE, BARIUMTITANATE & LEAD
ZIRCONATE, TITANTE [PZT].

INCHWORM LINEAR MOTOR

Using only the properties discussed so far, it is possible to describe the operation of a realistic piezoelectric
mechanism. Shown schematically in Figure is an inchworm type linear motor consisting of an H made of three
piezoelectric stacks.

Each stack is made up of several PZT elements that expand or contract in response to an applied voltage to
produce axial motion of the ends of the stacks. In this configuration, stacks 1 and, 2 car be expanded to clamp
against the walls of the channel, white stack 3 is alternately expanded and contracted. By properly synchronizing
the voltages applied to the PZT stacks, the H may be made to move in either direction along the channel.To
produce motion in the direction indicated, signals as shown in may be used, causing the armature of the motor to
advance in "steps" as shown in Figure below. The velocity that can be achieved depends on the rate at which the
control electronics can generate the needed signals and on the axial displacement of the motor achieved in each
step.

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For example, suppose each PZT stack is I cm in length and made of a material with piezoelectric modulus 600 x
1012 m/v and that the controller can generate 2000 output changes per second at a voltage sufficient to produce a
field of 500kv/m in the actuators. From the timing diagram it will be seen that each step through the full range
of stack 3 will require six controller actions, so the motor armature can advance at the rate of 2000/03 = 333.33
steps/s

INCH WORM LINEAR MOTOR

Piezo ceramic inch worm motor is a linear motor generally used in micro position applications due to their
ability to make accurate movements. There a two clamp (or) actuator 1 &2 and another extensional actuator with
actuator 2 the clamps are designed to work on the central rod the movement is achieved by coordinating the
activation of the clamp & the extensional elements. Clamp 1 turned ON it grips the rod, clamp 3 is turned OFF

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which relaxes the gripping of the rod, the extensional actuator 2 is turned ON thus moving the rod to the left
side. If the same is repeated in reverse way, the rod can be moved to right side. The sequence of repeated for
many times and the rod can move to the left (or) right depending upon the activation.

SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

Shape memory alloy is discovered long long ago in 1890. The structure of the martensite which is there
in steel is a major step towards the discovery of the shape memory alloy. in 1900’s the transformation of
martensite phase is absorbed in Fe-C [ferric carbon materials]. In 1963’s the reversible of martensite
transformation and the alloy exhibiting the transformation is observed. The following observations are achieved
in NiTinol which is a shape memory alloy [Nickel Titanium Naval Ordinance Laboratory]. The term shape
memory effects were given to the associated shape recovery behaviour.
Shape memory alloys refers to a group of materials which have ability to return to the predetermine
shape when heated. The shape memory effects are caused by the temperature dependent crystal structure.

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SHAPE MEMORY EFFECTS

The shape memory effects can be achieved by heating and by cooling by changing the phases from martensite to
austenite(or)austenite to martensite depending upon application. The difference in heating transition and cooling
transition gives rise to hysteric’s effect where some energy is lost. The shape memory effect either it may be one
way effects (or) two way effects.

One-way shape memory effect: When the shape memory alloy is in cold state bellow austenite start the
material will be bent (or)stretched(or) deformed to any shapes which it holes the shape until heated to transition
temperature. Upon heating the shape changes its to original dimension when the metal cools again it will remain
to the hot shape until deformed again in this case cooling from high temperature doesnot causes any microscopic
shape change.

Two-way shape memory effect: It is the effects that the material remains two shapes one at high temperature
the another at low temperature. These metals show shape memory effects both in heating and in cooling path.
The metal can be drained to leave some remainder of deformed low temperature condition in high temperature in
phase above some certain temperature metal losses the two-way effects.

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SHAPE MEMORY MATERIALS

 NiTi
 Cu-Al-Ni
 Cu-Sn
 Cu-Zn
 Cu-Zn-Al
 Au-Cu
 Au-Cd
 Fe-Pt
 Mn-Cu

APPLICATIONS
Aircraft industries
Robotic industries &
Medical industries
APPLICATION OF SMART STRUCTURES
The smart structure has to meet the following criteria’s function ability, durability, offer ability(or) cost, and
safety.
Air craft: Smart structures are used to monitor the aircraft state of strain depending on the speed, pressure,
performance and efficiency.
Space craft: The smart structures are used in pointing accuracy of the large antenna’s maintained through the
sensors and actuators.
Buildings: Buildings are designed to resist the damages caused by earthquake and wind damages by using a
smart window which can sense the weather change and automatically adjust to the temperature.
Medical devices: Smart structures are very much essential in human life where some smart materials are used to
sense, to actuate,to respond depending upon the human condition.
 Insulin delivery system
 Blood sugar sensor
 Walls
 Filters, etc.
Pipe lines: Smart structures are used in monitoring the leakage and damage to the pipes where oil and gases
flowing.

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Shape Memory Alloys: Introduction, Phenomenology, Influence of stress on characteristic temperatures,

Modelling of shape memory effect. Vibration control through shape memory alloys. Design
considerations, multiplexing embedded NiTiNOL actuators

Introduction:-
Shape memory alloy possesses a interesting property by which the metal remembers its original shape and size
and its characteristic transformation temperature which is known as shape memory effect. In 1962 William
Duchler, a coworker in Naval Ordinance Laboratory (NOL) discovered that nickel and titanium alloy showing
the shape memory effect.

Nickel titanium alloy exhibits the greater resistance to impact in addition to satisfactory properties of elasticity,
malleability and fatigue which is known as NiTiNOL. NiTiNOL has a low temperature phase and high
temperature phase. The unique property where in changes its phase between two solid phases and involves
rearrangement of atoms within it. The internal structure is different at different temperatures.

The low temperature phase is martensite (named after Adolf Martens) who is a metallurgist with highly twinned
crystalline structure. The high temperature phase is austenite (named after William C. Austin) with a body
centered cubic structures. The critical temperature at which the phase transformative takes place are represented
as Ms, Mf and As, Af (Martensite start, Martensite finish, Austenite start, Austenite finish).

Recovery begins at as and completes at af, any method of heating is adequate to change in its phase. There is no
stress involved in this process as described above and the deformation mode is non damping to the crystal
structure because of self accommodating nature of deformation. This memory is one way shape memory alloy
and two way shape memory.

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Experimental phenomena
If the SMA wire is through the temperature cycle, start with a wire in fully Austenite phase that is high
temperature phase, let Af represents the temperature at Austenite finish. Now the wire is cooled until it reaches a
temperature at which phase transformation begins this phase transformation is of course from fully Austenite to
martensite that is at low temperature. Let Ms represents the temperature where the material is martensite upon
further cooling the martensite begins to increase until mf at which the temperature of the wire is in fully
martensite phase where represents the volume fraction of martensite ᶓ represents the volume fraction of
martensite in the material in the material then at Austenite finish and martensite start the ᶓ represents the
volume fraction of martensite in the material is equal to 0 (ᶓ represents the volume fraction of martensite in the
material=0), in the same way martensite finish and Austenite start where ᶓ represents the volume fraction of
martensite in the material=1. If we now begin to heat the wire ᶓ represents the volume fraction of martensite in
the material=1 nothing will happens to the material phase but the temperature increases, when the temperature
reaches as martensite phase begins to rearrange themselves to the original configuration. Thus as represents the
temperature at which the high temperature phase starts upon further heating the rearrangement continues to
complete to form as.

The cycle is complicated and complete Martensite Body centred cubic structure when the wire begins in the
Austenite phase. The transformation at low temperature is fully martensite and reversing upon heating to
original high temperature or parent phase. Thus the critical temperatures are Ms, Mf, As, Af with martensite
describes 0 and 1.

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Let us examine the graphical representative to find out the expression that describes the behaviour. Let the
graphical representation which is representing a cosine function where
………….(1)
where c1 and c2 are the constants. mf is the martensite fraction which is varying from 0 to 1. In general

where
when
Now for a condition austenite to martensite then

as

then

where T is lying in between mf and ms i.e., mf ≤ T ≤ ms

similarly for martensite to austenite

where T lies in between af and as i.e., af ≤ T ≤ as applying boundary condition

In equation (1)

applying in equation (1) becomes

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which is for austenite to martensite.

For martensite to austenite

The initial condition ᶓ0 , T0 represents the condition of the material of a wire containing some martensite fraction
ᶓ0 and some austenite which is equal to 1-ᶓ0 at a temperature T0.
INFLUENCE OF STRESS ON THE CHARACTERISTIC TEMPERATURE:-
Experimental observations indicates that the temperature Mf , Ms ,As , Af (The temperature at which
phase change over increases with the stress.)

where

In general it is assumed that α=β and mf, ms, af, as are the critical temperatures at which phase changes
occur at σ=0, when σ≠0 higher temperatures will be needed to bring the change. The increase is linear with
critical temperatures with increase in tσhe applied stress.
For martensite to austenite transformation with is given by

The equation reflects increase in temperature is proportional to σ. With reference to the equation

and we can calculate ba where at

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=>

{Because
The effect of increased stress is to shift the characteristic curve to the right which is as shown in the figure
represented by a dotted line where for austenite to martensite:

For martensite to austenite:

The range of stress σ produced in a stress induced martensite is varying from

a
Thus

Or indirectly

When the stress is not equal to zero for austenite to martensite then

Which reduces to a simple equation shown earlier when σ=0

The stress equation is

The phase transformation results entirely for a stress leading hysteresis root. The another important characteristic
of the material observed is super elasticity whenever the wire is made up of SMA is stretched at low
temperature. Some level of martensite may remains upon loading. If the load satisfies the range requirement
defined above, upon heating the martensite residual strain can be recovered. The extent of recovery will depends
upon the extent of strain. Restrained if any there are three distinct properties:-
 Full recovery can occur with no external load on the wire, no work is done.
 No recovery is allowed because of restrained (A restrained such as fixing the elongated wire between
two fixtures so tightly that no movement is possible which generates large recovery of stress). This stress
is not unlike the stress developed in the steel wire. The thermal contraction that would have occurred is
prevented and this leads to a thermal stress.
 Partial recovery is allowed the unrecovered strain produces the stress.
Thus the shape memory alloy wire behaves differently depending upon the level of restrained that controls the
recovery of martensite strain.

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CONSTITUTIVE MODELING OF SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT:-

Consider an SMA wire subjected to isothermal mechanical loading and unloading. Assume the wire is 100%
Austenite state and at the temperature between martensite and austenite start which is represented by DA it
observes that the stress rate in SMA is a function of three primary variables (σ, ,T) which relates to SMA or T
the temperature ϵ,T) which relates to SMA or T the temperature at which the component at which the component
is operated ϵ,T) which relates to SMA or T the temperature at which the component is a strain at which the
component is functioning, the ᶓ represents the volume fraction of martensite in the material martensite of
fraction.

The strain at which the component is functioning can be related to

Integrating with respect to initial condition

For Austenite to martensite

A typical properties of NiTiNOL alloy are

Melting point = 1300°C
Density = 6.45
Youngs modulus for Austenite (approximately ) Martensite (approximately )

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Yield strength for Austenite ( ) Martensite( 10 to )

Ultimate strength
Percentage of elongation 20% to 30%
Transformation temperature varies from -200 to +100
Shape memory strain is 8.4%

VIBRATION CONTROL THROUGH SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS

Preliminary test (the steel beam with external actuation)

A specimen for a preliminary element a low costed SMA is attached to the steel box of beam, 4 stands of
NiTiNOLwires are mounted on the top of horizontal cantilever beam. The wire is supported through a Teflon
blocks clamped to the beam, the steel tube is fixed to the one end and free to the another end. The stainless steel
which contains the block moved apart until the wire were taut room temperature and the tension of the
individual wires were adjusted by inserting a split washers.

The each NiTiNOL wire on the beam having diameter of 1mm and resistance of 1.8 ohms each wire was driven
by one channel of electric control system. A wire was characterised by scanning calorimetry. The following
transformations were determined As=38.6℃, a, Af=55℃, a, Ms=27.8℃, a, Mf=-1.6℃, a. It is clear that the
Austenite transformation may be accomplished by heating but the partial reversion to martensite can be expected
by cooling to room temperature and below it.

Experiment to examine frequency response of a NiTiNOL wire supporting a weight at an end of a cantilever
beam.

NiTiNOL wire with a steel beam supported with a weight W and cantilever beam shown in figure. The
suspended wire which was heated by a square wave. The generator whose output is varied over the frequency
range. The alternating heating and cooling of the wire causes the oscillating force imposed on the beam and a

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resonance produced a vibration. Three resonances were observed with a highest frequency of the 168Hz. The
amplitude of vibration would be increased by applying forced cooling to the wire.

Cantilever beam excitation using NiTiNOL wire at the root of the beam.
In the second phase NiTiNOL wire is fastened to the beam, the beam which is of fibrereinforced plate beam
(Fibre glass reinforced resin) beam with a uniform cross section, a NiTiNOL wire was mounted in a V
configuration on the centre axis Upper surface of the beam. The wire was electrically excited on first bending
models and the beam was detected at 10Hz. No other resonances were detected. The static deflection of the
beam was observed when the wire was heated by a DC current. This demonstrate that a cantilever beam could be
excited into a resonance by an SMA generated axial force.

Vibration control of a cantilever beam using nitinol wire forcing the element at the root of the beam
The vibration control of a cantilever beam using NiTiNOL wire forcing element at the root of the plate, where
the test configuration used is of FRP with a thin section. A piezo electric crystal was mounted on each side of
the beam at the necked section one created a forcing drive and another for measuring the beam strain during
deflection. The NiTiNOL wire arrange in a reconfiguration axially oriented at the root of the beam on the upper

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surface with PZT forcing element. Both the SMA wire and the forcing elements PZT were energized by two
separate variable frequency power source. The phase relationship between SMA and PZT may be in phase or out
of phase. When the beam excited by the SMA wire heating and cooling of the first more frequencies were
observed to be 35Hz. When it is excited by the PZT crystal it is 32Hz. This indicates the system was being
detuned by change in stiffness. The PZT drive sets 32Hz. The amplitude of vibration was significantly reduced
when the SMA wire was found to be tighted by PCET.

When both PZT crystal and SMA wire were excited in phase the amplitude of vibration was higher than forcing
element alone. The opposite condition is prevailed the PZT crystal and SMA wire should be out of phase. The
amplitude was much smaller indicated nearly a total response actuation.

Cantilever beam excited using commutated input signal to a multiple NiTiNOL wire

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In order to demonstrate the frequency of bandwidth increases by the use of multiple wires energising through a
commutator. The NiTiNOL wire were mounted on G F R P BEAM the root of the beam had an aluminium
insert, the NiTiNOL wire were arranged in pair with a spring at one end, the beam to take up wire slack when
the wire was in cold and to prevent over change.

The beam resonance was calculated approximately 3Hz. The wires were energized through a commutator. The
dynamic tension of the wire was measured with a sensor. The beam strain were measured by PZT strain
measuring crystal at gauge. Thus a successful demonstration shows that SMA excitation of the structure
frequencies above the maximum for a given wire size detected by its thermal response. These experiments
demonstrated a various ways of SMA can be using for active and passive controlled vibrations. When these
materials are incorporated in the structure.

Multiple embedded nitinol actuators

In many applications the response time of SMA actuators is limited by heat transfer very rapidly heating can be
achieved but for cooling needs time. The cooling is long compared to a vibratory period of typical mechanical or
civil structure. A unique approach has been found suitable to overcome this limitation. The approach is based on
using several NiTiNOL wires as an actuator. In parallel and energizing subsequent of this during a successive
cycle of structural motion effectively reducing control for a increased frequency response. This with an array of
actuators an effective bandwidth can be achieved that demonstrated to the greater than the bandwidth possible
with single actuator.

APPLICATION OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS:

A unique property of SMA material which is resulting in a thermally induced phase transformation and super
elastic behaviour due to the stress induced phase transformation have been exploited commercially on variety of
products. The key factor for applicability are its transformation time and temperature. The transformation time
required for transformation is minimum.
1) The popular applications are window notches that can open and close.
2) Shower springs which are activated above a certain temperature to shutoff the water and heater.
3) Eye glass frames that can recover the original shapes.
4) Blood clot filters, circuit boards, cryofits, couplings for repair of the oil lines in emergencies.

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5) Bracing wire for teeth, NiTiNOL strips for bone joints, NiTiNOL actuators, stents in angioplasty.

Applications
Industrial (Aircraft and spacecraft)
Boeing, General Electric Aircraft Engines, Goodrich Corporation, NASA, Texas A&M University and
All Nippon Airways developed the Variable Geometry Chevron using a NiTi SMA. Such a variable area fan
nozzle (VAFN) design would allow for quieter and more efficient jet engines in the future. In 2005 and 2006,
Boeing conducted successful flight testing of this technology.

SMAs are being explored as vibration dampers for launch vehicles and commercial jet engines. The large
amount of hysteresis observed during the superelastic effect allow SMAs to dissipate energy and dampen
vibrations. These materials show promise for reducing the high vibration loads on payloads during launch as
well as on fan blades in commercial jet engines, allowing for more lightweight and efficient designs. SMAs also
exhibit potential for other high shock applications such as ball bearings and landing gear.

There is also strong interest in using SMAs for a variety of actuator applications in commercial jet engines,
which would significantly reduce their weight and boost efficiency. Further research needs to be conducted in
this area, however, to increase the transformation temperatures and improve the mechanical properties of these
materials before they can be successfully implemented. A review of recent advances in high-temperature shape-
memory alloys (HTSMAs)

Automotive
The first high-volume product (> 5Mio actuators / year) is an automotive valve used to control low pressure
pneumatic bladders in a car seat that adjust the contour of the lumbar support / bolsters. The overall benefits of
SMA over traditionally-used solenoids in this application (lower noise/EMC/weight/form factor/power
consumption) were the crucial factor in the decision to replace the old standard technology with SMA. Chevrolet
Corvette became the first vehicle to incorporate SMA actuators, which replaced heavier motorized actuators to
open and close the hatch vent that releases air from the trunk, making it easier to close. A variety of other
applications are also being targeted, including electric generators to generate electricity from exhaust heat and
on-demand air dams to optimize aerodynamics at various speeds.

Robotics
There have also been limited studies on using these materials in robotics, for example the hobbyist robot
Stiquito (and "Roboterfrau Lara", as they make it possible to create very lightweight robots. Recently, a
prosthetic hand was introduced by Loh et al. that can almost replicate the motions of a human hand [Loh2005].
Other biomimetic applications are also being explored. Weak points of the technology are energy inefficiency,
slow response times, and large hysteresis.

Civil Structures
SMAs find a variety of applications in civil structures such as bridges and buildings. One such application is
Intelligent Reinforced Concrete (IRC), which incorporates SMA wires embedded within the concrete. These

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wires can sense cracks and contract to heal macro-sized cracks. Another application is active tuning of
structural natural frequency using SMA wires to dampen vibrations.

Piping
The first consumer commercial application was a shape-memory coupling for piping, e.g. oil line pipes for
industrial applications, water pipes and similar types of piping for consumer/commercial applications.

Telecommunication
The second high volume application was an autofocus (AF) actuator for a smart phone. There are currently
several companies working on an optical image stabilisation (OIS) module driven by SMA wires.

Medicine
Shape-memory alloys are applied in medicine, for example, as fixation devices for
osteotomies in orthopaedic surgery, in dental braces to exert constant tooth-moving forces on the teeth, and in
Capsule Endoscopy they can be used as a trigger for biopsy action.

The late 1980s saw the commercial introduction of Nitinol as an enabling technology in a number of minimally
invasive endovascular medical applications. While more costly than stainless steel, the self expanding properties
of Nitinol alloys manufactured to BTR (Body Temperature Response), have provided an attractive alternative to
balloon expandable devices in stent grafts where it gives the ability to adapt to the shape of certain blood vessels
when exposed to body temperature. On average, 50% of all peripheral vascular stents currently available on the
worldwide market are manufactured with Nitinol.

D C ANIL KUMAR Sri Sairam College of Engineering Anekal. Page | 20