Advanced methods for the analysis, design, and optimization of SMA-based aerostructures

Engineers continue to apply shape memory alloys to aerospace actuation applications due to their high energy density, robust solid-state actuation, and silent and shock-free operation. Past design and development of such actuators relied on experimental trial and error and empirically derived graphical methods. Over the last two decades, however, it has been repeatedly demonstrated that existing SMA constitutive models can capture stabilized SMA transformation behaviors with sufficient accuracy. This work builds upon past successes and suggests a general framework by which predictive tools can be used to assess the responses of many possible design configurations in an automated fashion. By applying methods of design optimization, it is shown that the integrated implementation of appropriate analysis tools can guide engineers and designers to the best design configurations. A general design optimization framework is proposed for the consideration of any SMA component or assembly of such components that applies when the set of design variables includes many members. This is accomplished by relying on commercially available software and utilizing tools already well established in the design optimization community. Such tools are combined with finite element analysis (FEA) packages that consider a multitude of structural effects. The foundation of this work is a three-dimensional thermomechanical constitutive model for SMAs applicable for arbitrarily shaped bodies. A reduced-order implementation also allows computationally efficient analysis of structural components such as wires, rods, beams and shells. The use of multiple optimization schemes, the consideration of assembled components, and the accuracy of the implemented constitutive model in full and reduced-order forms are all demonstrated.