POWRE: Methodology for Design of Compliant Mechanisms with Integrated Smart Materials

POWRE：采用集成智能材料设计顺应机制的方法

• 批准号: 9870527
• 负责人: Mary Frecker
• 金额: $ 8万
• 依托单位: Pennsylvania State Univ University Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 1998
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 1998-07-01 至 1999-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9870527&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: POWRE; Methodology; Design; Compliant; Mechanisms

Development of smart materials and structures is a rapidly emerging field in engineering. A structure is considered "smart" when, together with a controller, it can sense changes in its environment and adapt to those changes. However, a major barrier in the design of smart structures is that current actuation devices such as strain-induced actuators are limited in their output displacement capability. As a result, they are often equipped with compliant stroke amplifiers. To eliminate the reliance on intuitive and ad-hoc design methods for these actuators, a new systematic design method is needed. The goal of this research is to develop such a method. This new method will employ a topology optimization approach, accounting for issues particular to smart structures such as maximum amplification, maximum mechanical efficiency, impedance matching, and least weight. The resulting optimal compliant mechanism designs will then be integrated with smart materials to form an actuator. It is expected that these optimally designed actuators will offer improved stroke performance over current smart actuator designs. The funding provided by the POWRE program will allow the PI to conduct this fundamental research and establish her own research program and laboratory in the area of smart structures design.

智能材料与结构的发展是一个新兴的工程领域。 当一个结构与一个控制器一起能够感知其环境的变化并适应这些变化时，它就被认为是“智能”的。 然而，在智能结构设计的一个主要障碍是，目前的驱动装置，如应变诱导致动器是有限的，在其输出位移能力。 因此，它们通常配备有顺应性冲程放大器。 为了消除对这些致动器的直观和特设的设计方法的依赖，一个新的系统的设计方法是必要的。 本研究的目的就是开发这样一种方法。 这种新方法将采用拓扑优化方法，考虑到智能结构特有的问题，如最大放大，最大机械效率，阻抗匹配和最小重量。 由此产生的最佳柔顺机构设计将与智能材料集成以形成致动器。 预计这些优化设计的致动器将提供比当前智能致动器设计更好的冲程性能。 POWRE计划提供的资金将使PI能够进行这项基础研究，并在智能结构设计领域建立自己的研究计划和实验室。