Development of morphing UAV actuated with shape memory alloy

• Main Author: Zhang, Alwyn Jianzhong
• Other Authors: Liu Yong
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Functional materials; DRNTU::Engineering::Materials::Metallic materials::Alloys; DRNTU::Engineering::Mechanical engineering::Machine design and construction
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/61023
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

For this project, a sweeping wing mechanism actuated by Shape Memory alloys (SMAs) is designed and developed. SMAs are “smart” materials that remember its original shape and are able to return to the shape after deformation when heated to a certain temperature. The process is also known as Shape Memory Effect (SME). SMA wires are being used in this project to sweep the wing backwards by using the force and displacement produced when the wire is heated to return to its pre-deformed shape. The specific SMA material used is Nitinol, a Nickel Titanium Alloy. The advantages of morphing aircraft and SMA as actuators are also discussed in the literature review. Variable wing sweep, in particular, will be explored as a type of morphing. A more detailed analysis on sweeping wings, their feasibility and their advantages will be covered by Sandy Koh, the author’s co-partner in the project. The detailed design of the wing and its mechanism and how the SMA is implemented into the design will be the key focus of this report. The concept of the design is mainly inspired by the flight of flying animals and how the movement of their wings in flight. Tests to determine the transition temperature, the recovery strain and the recovery force of the SMA were conducted. Finally, the results of the mechanism and how improvements can be made to increase the effectiveness of the mechanism will also be discussed.