Smart Materials, Precision Sensors/Actuators, Smart Structures, and Structronic Systems

Authors

H. S. Tzou, University of Kentucky
H.-J. Lee, Structural Mechanics and Dynamics Branch, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio
S. M. Arnold, Life Prediction Branch, NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio

Date of this Version

2004

Citation

Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, 11: 367–393, 2004

Comments

U.S. Government Work

Abstract

Many electroactive functional materials have been used in small- and microscale transducers and precision mechatronic control systems for years. It was not until the mid-1980s that scientists started integrating electroactive materials with large-scale structures as in situ sensors and/or actuators, thus introducing the concept of smart materials, smart structures, and structronic systems. This paper provides an overview of present smart materials and their sensor/actuator/structure applications. Fundamental multifield optomagnetopiezoelectric-thermoelastic behaviors and novel transducer technologies applied to complex multifield problems involving elastic, electric, temperature, magnetic, light, and other interactions are emphasized. Material histories, characteristics, material varieties, limitations, sensor/actuator/structure applications, and so forth of piezoelectrics, shape-memory materials, electro- and magnetostrictive materials, electro- and magnetorheological fluids, polyelectrolyte gels, superconductors, pyroelectrics, photostrictive materials, photoferroelectrics, magneto-optical materials, and so forth are thoroughly reviewed.