Shape memory alloys (SMA), because of their unique mechanical characteristics and shape
memory effect (SME), have been widely used as force and displacement actuators in many
fields [ Duering et al, 1990]. In the industrial applications, it is
necessary not only to calculate
the mechanical response of the actuator in terms of recovery force or deformation, but also to
evaluate its temporal characteristics, i.e., the actuation and reset times. This paper presents the
fundamental characteristics of SMA and a complete design model, which requires a close
connection between three models: a mechanical model to predict the response of the actuator
to a given temperature increment, a thermal model to compute the temperature change in the
device, and a continuum-mechanical model to predict the martensite fraction on the SMA.
The methodology is applied to a linear wire actuator.
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