Novel Monolithic Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) Actuator with an Embedded Strain Gauge Sensor

摘要

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a class of materials which extraordinary behaviors such as pseudoelasticity and shape memory effects. Due to these properties, SMAs have caused an incredible amount of interest in the field of actuation [1], however, up until now, sensorless position estimation of SMA actuators under dynamic unknown applied stresses has been impossible due to the complexity of the systems and the number of unknown parameters [2], The current work describes a novel self-sensing NiTi Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuator which is designed and fabricated by using laser processing in order to incorporate two distinct material compositions in a monolithic wire. Each compositional section exhibits distinctly different properties at room temperature, including shape memory effect (SME) for actuation and pseudo-elasticity (PE) to enable additional sensing capability.