Establishment of a Site on SMA-Research Technologies (SMA-RT) as part of OSU-SVC

Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station, College Station TX

Investigators

Abstract

Texas A & M University (TAMU) is planning to establish a site for the NSF I/UCRC program on shape memory alloys (SMA) and actuation technologies as a new thrust area of the recently established I/UCRC Smart Vehicles Concepts Center (SVC) at Ohio State University. The proposed research site will focus on development, processing, characterization, design and analysis of SMAs and SMA actuators with high actuation work outputs and operating temperatures spanning from subzero temperatures to 500C. In particular, the proposed research will establish the relationship amongst processing, microstructure and properties of SMAs. Emphasis will also be placed on studying the complicated thermo-mechanical response of SMAs and SMA actuator designs and analysis. The new SMA materials, actuators, design and analysis tools developed at TAMU will benefit a wide range of industries and especially the design of new vehicles and mechanisms. The proposed site will contribute to and support the smart technology activities that are currently under development at OSU. TAMU will help disseminate the SMA knowledge to the interested US industries and help maintain or improve their global competitiveness. The researchers at the proposed site intend to recruit women and minority undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the SVC-TAMU research work.