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(1 - 3 of 3)
- Title
- CRYOGENIC SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY ACTUATORS FOR SPACEPORT TECHNOLOGIES: MATERIALS CHARACTERIZATION AND PROTOTYPE TESTING.
- Creator
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Lemanski, Jennifer, Vaidyanathan, Rajan, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Shape memory alloys (SMAs) possess the unique ability to change their shape by undergoing a solid-state phase transformation at a particular temperature. The shape change is associated with a large strain recovery as the material returns to its "remembered" shape. Their ability to act as both sensor and actuator has made them an attractive subject of study for numerous applications. SMAs have many characteristics which are advantageous in space-related applications, including generation of...
Show moreShape memory alloys (SMAs) possess the unique ability to change their shape by undergoing a solid-state phase transformation at a particular temperature. The shape change is associated with a large strain recovery as the material returns to its "remembered" shape. Their ability to act as both sensor and actuator has made them an attractive subject of study for numerous applications. SMAs have many characteristics which are advantageous in space-related applications, including generation of large forces associated with the strain recovery, smooth and controlled movements, large movement to weight ratio, high reliability, and spark-free operation. The objective of this work is the further development and testing of a cryogenic thermal conduction switch as part of NASA funded projects. The switch was developed to provide a variable conductive pathway between liquid methane and liquid oxygen dewars in order to passively regulate the methane temperature. Development of the switch concept has been continued in this work by utilizing Ni-Ti-Fe as the active SMA element. Ni-Ti-Fe exhibits the shape memory effect at cryogenic temperatures, which makes it well suited for low temperature applications. This alloy is also distinguished by an intermediate phase change known as the rhombohedral or R-phase, which is characterized by a small hysteresis (typically 1-2 deg C) and offers the advantage of precise control over a set temperature range. For the Ni-Ti-Fe alloy used, its thermomechanical processing, subsequent characterization using dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry and implementation in the conduction switch configuration are addressed. This work was funded by grants from NASA KSC (NAG10-323) and NASA GRC (NAG3-2751).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- Identifier
- CFE0000501, ucf:46448
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0000501
- Title
- LOW TEMPERATURE AND REDUCED LENGTH SCALE BEHAVIOR OF SHAPE MEMORY AND SUPERELASTIC NITI AND NITIFE ALLOYS.
- Creator
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Manjeri, Radhakrishnan, Vaidyanathan, Raj, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
-
Shape memory and superelastic applications of NiTi based alloys have typically been limited to near room temperature or to bulk length scales. The objective of this work is two-fold: first, to investigate shape memory behavior at low temperatures in the context of the R-phase transformation in NiTiFe alloys by recourse to arc-melting, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mechanical testing at low temperatures; and second, to investigate...
Show moreShape memory and superelastic applications of NiTi based alloys have typically been limited to near room temperature or to bulk length scales. The objective of this work is two-fold: first, to investigate shape memory behavior at low temperatures in the context of the R-phase transformation in NiTiFe alloys by recourse to arc-melting, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and mechanical testing at low temperatures; and second, to investigate superelasticity and two-way shape memory behavior at reduced length scales in the context of NiTi by recourse to micro-compression, micro-indentation and TEM studies. Selected compositions of ternary NiTiFe shape memory alloys were arc-melted and thermo-mechanically processed to investigate the influence of composition and processing parameters on the formation of the R-phase. The methodology used for the processing and characterization of the alloys was established and included microprobe analysis, DSC, TEM and mechanical testing. No phase transformation was observed in alloys with Fe content in excess of 4 at.%. Thermo-mechanical treatments facilitated the formation of the R-phase in Ni-rich alloys. The range of the transformation between the R-phase and austenite, and the hysteresis associated with it were influenced by the distribution and size of metastable Ni4Ti3 precipitates. The investigation of the microstructural, thermal and mechanical properties of the R-phase transformation in NiTiFe alloys revealed a complex dependence of these properties on processing parameters. The present work also highlighted the hitherto unexplored competition between the two inelastic deformation modes operating in the R-phase (detwinning and stress-induced transformation) and established the preference of one mode over the other in stress-temperature space. The complete micromechanical response of superelastic NiTi was examined by performing careful micro-compression experiments on single crystal pillars of known orientations using a nanoindenter tip. Specifically, the orientation dependence of the elastic deformation of austenite, the onset of its transformation to martensite, the gradient and the hysteresis in the stress-strain response during transformation, the elastic modulus of the stress-induced martensite and the onset of plasticity of the stress-induced martensite were analyzed in separate experiments. A majority of the results were explained by recourse to a quantitative determination of strains associated with austenite grains transforming to martensite variants or twinning in martensite. Microstructural studies were also performed on a micro-indentation trained NiTi shape memory alloy specimen to understand the mechanisms governing the two-way shape memory effect. In situ TEM studies at temperature on specimens obtained at different depths below the indent showed the presence of retained martensite along with the R-phase. Previously, while such two-way shape memory behavior has typically been associated with large dislocation densities, this work provides evidence of the role of retained martensite and the R-phase in cases with reduced dislocation densities. Funding support for this work from NSF (CAREER DMR-0239512), NASA (NAG3-2751) and SRI is acknowledged.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- Identifier
- CFE0002825, ucf:48065
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0002825
- Title
- LOW TEMPERATURE NITIFE SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS: ACTUATOR ENGINEERING AND INVESTIGATION OF DEFORMATION MECHANISMS USING IN SITU NEUTRON DIFFRACTION AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY.
- Creator
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Krishnan, Vinu, Vaidyanathan, Raj, University of Central Florida
- Abstract / Description
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Shape memory alloys are incorporated as actuator elements due to their inherent ability to sense a change in temperature and actuate against external loads by undergoing a shape change as a result of a temperature-induced phase transformation. The cubic so-called austenite to the trigonal so-called R-phase transformation in NiTiFe shape memory alloys offers a practical temperature range for actuator operation at low temperatures, as it exhibits a narrow temperature-hysteresis with a desirable...
Show moreShape memory alloys are incorporated as actuator elements due to their inherent ability to sense a change in temperature and actuate against external loads by undergoing a shape change as a result of a temperature-induced phase transformation. The cubic so-called austenite to the trigonal so-called R-phase transformation in NiTiFe shape memory alloys offers a practical temperature range for actuator operation at low temperatures, as it exhibits a narrow temperature-hysteresis with a desirable fatigue response. Overall, this work is an investigation of selected science and engineering aspects of low temperature NiTiFe shape memory alloys. The scientific study was performed using in situ neutron diffraction measurements at the newly developed low temperature loading capability on the Spectrometer for Materials Research at Temperature and Stress (SMARTS) at Los Alamos National Laboratory and encompasses three aspects of the behavior of Ni46.8Ti50Fe3.2 at 92 K (the lowest steady state temperature attainable with the capability). First, in order to study deformation mechanisms in the R-phase in NiTiFe, measurements were performed at a constant temperature of 92 K under external loading. Second, with the objective of examining NiTiFe in one-time, high-stroke, actuator applications (such as in safety valves), a NiTiFe sample was strained to approximately 5% (the R-phase was transformed to B19' phase in the process) at 92 K and subsequently heated to full strain recovery under a load. Third, with the objective of examining NiTiFe in cyclic, low-stroke, actuator applications (such as in cryogenic thermal switches), a NiTiFe sample was strained to 1% at 92 K and subsequently heated to full strain recovery under load. Neutron diffraction spectra were recorded at selected time and stress intervals during these experiments. The spectra were subsequently used to obtain quantitative information related to the phase-specific strain, texture and phase fraction evolution using the Rietveld technique. The mechanical characterization of NiTiFe alloys using the cryogenic capability at SMARTS provided considerable insight into the mechanisms of phase transformation and twinning at cryogenic temperatures. Both mechanisms contribute to shape memory and pseudoelasticity phenomena. Three phases (R, B19' and B33 phases) were found to coexist at 92 K in the unloaded condition (nominal holding stress of 8 MPa). For the first time the elastic modulus of R-phase was reported from neutron diffraction experiments. Furthermore, for the first time a base-centered orthorhombic (B33) martensitic phase was identified experimentally in a NiTi-based shape memory alloy. The orthorhombic B33 phase has been theoretically predicted in NiTi from density function theory (DFT) calculations but hitherto has never been observed experimentally. The orthorhombic B33 phase was observed while observing shifting of a peak (identified to be B33) between the R and B19' peaks in the diffraction spectra collected during loading. Given the existing ambiguity in the published literature as to whether the trigonal R-phase belongs to the P3 or P space groups, Rietveld analyses were separately carried out incorporating the symmetries associated with both space groups and the impact of this choice evaluated. The constrained recovery of the B19' phase to the R-phase recorded approximately 4% strain recovery between 150 K and 170 K, with half of that recovery occurring between 160 K and 162 K. Additionally, the aforementioned research methodology developed for Ni46.8Ti50Fe3.2 shape memory alloys was applied to experiments performed on a new high temperature Ni29.5Ti50.5Pd20 shape memory alloys. The engineering aspect focused on the development of (i) a NiTiFe based thermal conduction switch that minimized the heat gradient across the shape memory actuator element, (ii) a NiTiFe based thermal conduction switch that incorporated the actuator element in the form of helical springs, and (iii) a NiTi based release mechanism. Patents are being filed for all the three shape memory actuators developed as a part of this work. This work was supported by grants from SRI, NASA (NAG3-2751) and NSF (CAREER DMR-0239512) to UCF. Additionally, this work benefited from the use of the Lujan Center at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center, funded by the United States Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract No. W-7405-ENG-36.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- Identifier
- CFE0001934, ucf:47437
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/ucf/fd/CFE0001934
