Abstract:
A structural member (100) includes a split beam (104, 106) within a box structure (102). The split beam (104, 106) may be a segmented beam that includes multiple segments (114, 116, 118, 124, 126, 128) for each of its parts (104, 106). Movement of the split beam parts (104, 106) within the box structure (102), as the structural member (100) flexes, dissipates energy and adds to the damping of the structural member.
Abstract:
A structural member (100) includes a box structure (102) that encloses a beam (104, 106), which may be a split beam or a split segmented beam. The structural member includes a pressure mechanism that varies a pressure force or a friction force between the beam and the box structure. Movement of the parts within the box structure, against the force of the pressure mechanism, as the structural member flexes, dissipates energy and adds to the damping of the structural member.
Abstract:
A shape-change material includes a shape memory material layer (12) with an electrically conductive layer (14) on a surface of the shape memory material layer. The conductive material may be used to heat the shape memory material by electrical resistance heating. The conductive material (14) may be a primary heater, providing the heating to cause softening or shape change in the shape memory material (12), or may be a secondary heater in conjunction with a greater amount of heating from a primary heater, such as a conductive plate that provides electrical resistance heating to a surface of the shape memory material on an opposite side of the shape memory material (12) from the conductive material (14). One use for the shape-change material is as the skin material for a shape changing material.
Abstract:
A shape-changing structure (10) has a superelastic metal foam structural member (12) that changes shape (morphs) to change configuration of the structure. The superelastic metal foam structural member changes shape while maintaining a continuous outer surface, with the continuous metal foam material (14) inside the outer surface (16) expanding, contracting, or otherwise changing shape. The superelastic metal foam material may be heated above a transition temperature to allow it to change shape, and then cooled to cause it to increase in strength, more easily maintaining its new shape. The superelastic metal foam material may be a suitable alloy, for example a nickel titanium alloy, that exhibits superelastic (pseudoelastic) behavior. The superelastic metal foam material may be a shape memory alloy material that returns to a set shape upon moderate heating. The superelastic metal elastic foam structural member may be heated either by an internal heat source or by external heating.
Abstract:
A reinforced inflatable wing improves the tolerance of the OML and reinforces the wing in at least the high load areas. This approach provides fitment constrained air vehicles with wings having increased surface area to improve flight endurance or aerodynamic control. A wing box (20,108, 208, 308, 400) forms a first portion of the wing. A skin having a plurality of rigid plates (40,122, 222, 322, 406) affixed thereto is inflated to form a second portion of the wing to either increase the chord length or lengthen the wing span. The skin is suitably inflated with foam to form a solid wing.
Abstract:
A reinforced inflatable wing improves the tolerance of the OML and reinforces the wing in at least the high load areas. This approach provides fitment constrained air vehicles with wings having increased surface area to improve flight endurance or aerodynamic control. A wing box forms a first portion of the wing. A skin having a plurality of rigid plates affixed thereto is inflated to form a second portion of the wing to either increase the chord length or lengthen the wing span. The skin is suitably inflated with foam to form a solid wing.
Abstract:
A kinetic anti-projectile vehicle includes a body, and extendible arms that extend radially from the body. The arms include a foam material, such as a shape memory foam. The foam material may be heated to expand it. The foam arms may be mechanically restrained while being heated. The mechanically restraint may be removed by heating, for example including a fusible link or a shape memory sold material. The foam material arms may include solid material, either in the form of solid material particles, such as high strength particles, or in the form of supports or restraints in the foam material. The extension of the foam arms increases the effective area of the vehicle for impacting a projectile. Impact on the projectile from the body and/or one or more of the arms may be sufficient to destroy, divert, or otherwise disable the projectile.
Abstract:
A load-bearing structural member (12) has a continuous structural material (14) with piezoelectric material particles (16) mixed in throughout. The structural material may be any of a variety of suitable materials, such as polymer materials, composite materials, ceramic materials, or concrete. The piezoelectric material particles may be used for evaluating the soundness of the structural member, such as in quality control or structural health monitoring processes. The structural member may include one or more conductive pickups (20) used for receiving signals from the structural member. The signals may be induced by introducing ultrasonic signals or vibrational resonance signals into the structural member. The response from such induced signals may be used for quality control purposes or structural health monitoring. Piezomagnetic, electro-strictive, or magneto-strictive material particles (18) may also be spread throughout the structural material, to amplify and otherwise enhance the signals from the piezoelectric material particles.
Abstract:
A shape-changing structural member (12) has a shape-changing material (14), such as a suitable foam material, for example a polymer foam capable of withstanding at least 300% strain or a metal alloy foam capable of withstanding at least 5% strain. Springs, such as one or more coil springs (40, 42), provide structural support for the shape-changing material. The springs may also be used to provide forces to expand and contract the shape change material. The springs may include pairs of concentric springs, one inside of another. The concentric springs may surround an underlying skeleton structure that supports the shape-changing material and/or aids in changing the shape of the material. The concentric springs may or may not be wrapped around the underlying skeleton structure. Multiple springs or pairs of springs may be coupled together using a sheet metal connector.
Abstract:
An air vehicle wing includes foldable ribs (52) coupled to a leading-edge spar (32). The ribs each have multiple rib segments (52a-52d) which are foldable (hinged) relative to each other. Extension linkages (54), each with multiple extension linkage segments, pass through openings in the rib segments, and may be coupled to the rib segments with pin couplings, able to change relative angle between the individual rib segments and the extension linkage segments to which they are coupled. A skin (80) may cover the ribs, to provide an outer surface of the wing that may be unfolded as the wing is expanded from a stowed, small-chord condition, to a deployed, large-chord condition.