A reversibly deployable air dam: a bending approach based on embedded shape memory alloy actuators, Part II: technology demonstration

Geoffrey P. McKnight; Alan L. Browne; Nancy L. Johnson

doi:10.1117/12.812280

31 March 2009 A reversibly deployable air dam: a bending approach based on embedded shape memory alloy actuators, Part II: technology demonstration

Geoffrey P. McKnight, Alan L. Browne, Nancy L. Johnson

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7290, Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies 2009; 72900C (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.812280
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Airflow over/under/around a vehicle can affect many important aspects of vehicle performance including vehicle drag (and through this vehicle fuel economy), vehicle lift and downforce (and through these vehicle stability and handling), and cooling/heat exchange for the vehicle powertrain and air conditioning systems. Known devices in current use to control airflow over/under/around the vehicle are all of fixed geometry, location, orientation, and stiffness. Such devices can thus not be relocated, reoriented, reshaped, etc. as driving conditions change and thus airflow over/under/around the vehicle body cannot be adjusted to better suit the changed driving condition. Additionally, under-vehicle airflow control devices, such as air dams, also reduce ground clearance and thus present a constant challenge to designers to provide the needed control of airflow while maintaining sufficient ground clearance to avoid damage. The research project whose second phase is described herein had its genesis in brainstorming on ways in which the field activated shape and stiffness changing attributes of several classes of active materials could be utilized to produce on-demand deploying/stowing of an air dam. During this second phase, bench top working models were developed, constructed, and successfully exercised this demonstrating the feasibility of an SMA actuator based approach to reversibly deploying an air dam through bending of its flexible structure. Beyond feasibility, the bench top working models demonstrated an active materials based approach which would add little weight to the existing stationary system, and could potentially perform well in the harsh under vehicle environment due to a lack of bearings and pivots. This demonstration showed that actuation speed, force, and cyclic stability all could meet the application requirements.

Citation Download Citation

Geoffrey P. McKnight, Alan L. Browne, and Nancy L. Johnson "A reversibly deployable air dam: a bending approach based on embedded shape memory alloy actuators, Part II: technology demonstration", Proc. SPIE 7290, Industrial and Commercial Applications of Smart Structures Technologies 2009, 72900C (31 March 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.812280

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