An Assessment of Smart Air and Space Structures: Demonstrations and Technology

Abstract : During the past decade, the multidisciplinary field of smart materials and structures has experienced rapid growth in terms of individual technologies and applications. The integration of sensors, actuators, and controllers with structures that enable adaptation to environmental and operational conditions has progressed to such a point that numerous systems applications are being demonstrated. This paper reviews the current status, results to date, and issues associated with several of these projects. This review focuses on realistic sub- or full-scale systems demonstrations and relevant characterization and testing in the following areas: structural health monitoring, noise and vibration suppression E.G., LAUNCH ISOLATION, PRECISION POINTING, INTERIOR NOISE, TAIL BUFFET, WING FLUTTER, AND HELICOPTER BLADE-VORTEX INTERACTION (BVI), shape control, and multifunctional structural concepts for spacecraft and launch vehicles, aircraft, and rotorcraft. These demonstrations focus on showing potential system-level performance improvements using smart technologies in realistic structures. The status of several individual technologies important to achieving the ultimate objective of a "smart" system-actuator materials, devices (sensors and actuators), electronics, control, modeling and analyses, and integration (at the manufacturing and overall system levels)-is also addressed in some detail. Included in this discussion is an assessment of their respective technology readiness levels.