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SciITech
The Battalion
Page 3A • Thursday, September 11,2003
Flexing metal muscles
&M researchers designing innovative technology with Shape Memory Alloys
By Kyle Ross
THE BATTALION
I Shape Memory Alloys are nothing new. In the early
■960s. a combination of nickel and titanium was found
tb exhibit the phenomenon of shape memory. This new
IIIIHHI^Kietal could be bent and deformed at higher tempera-
imOCratl* 1,CS 0n ^ 10 return to * ts natura ^ structure when cooled.
■hese shape-altering cycles could be performed mil-
■ons of times without any noticeable breakdown, giving
ne alloy an unlimited lifespan and an unlimited worth.
I Twenty years later, SMAs began showing up in med
ical and orthopedic applications but, for the most part,
lemained an untapped technological treasure. Not until
iecently have scientists and innovators begun to under
stand just how far they can go with this exceptional
netal alloy.
I Researchers at Texas A&M have jumped headfirst
into this growing field of study and have already con-
■•ibuted exciting innovations that stand tall at the
|orefront.
“Our group here at Texas A&M is one of the top
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■epartment.
I The Office of Naval Research has sponsored an
A&M project to design an underwater vessel using
SMAs. The vessel is built to replicate the propulsion of
a fish including the use of an artificial tail. SMAs are
used as the “muscles” that move the tail just like an
everyday goldfish. Without the need of a motor, sound
detection is significantly diminished while the inside
space is increased, two aspects that are important to the
development of military underwater vessels.
I Researchers in the aerospace engineering department
||re also using Shape Memory Alloys to design “smart”
wings on planes. Powered by SMAs, these “smart”
wings have the ability to change their surface area, in
effect becoming thinner or fatter depending on specific
pmes of the flight. This vastly improves the efficiency of
air travel, because the wings remain at optimal size,
minimizing drag.
I Recently, A&M researchers have set their sights on
how Shape Memory Alloys may fit into the world of
medicine. Work is being done to give the SMAs porous
qualities so that they may be used for bone implants.
“The advantage of SMA implants is that they accom
modate shape changes without breaking and they allow
the actual bone to grow inside the pores themselves.
This does wonders in the healing process,” Entchev said.
This cutting-edge technology is now finding its way
into the undergraduate programs as well. Rita Caso, an
assessment & evaluation manager for Combined
Research Curriculum Development at A&M, says the
addition of SMA subject matter into certain classes
has shown wonderful results.
“We have found that students taking
classes with smart material (SMA) sub
ject matter have responded more pos
itively in concern to themselves and
their area of study than those with
out the subject matter,” Caso said.
Caso said she hopes to introduce
SMAs to students earlier in their edu
cational career. It helps keep them
interested in being engineers and
establishes groundwork for future
studies and possible research in the
field, she said.
“We give the students these magical
materials to play with, to do wonderful
things with,” Caso said. “Being able to
work with this and other technologies
makes them feel happy with their deci
sion to be an engineer. It’s all about
keeping engineers, engineers.”
'«l|p
\
\gl
■ Side-to-side wiggle reduces
chance of a^urface^wake_
Graphic courtesy of www.popsci.com, Ruben Deluna • THE battalion
Shape Memory
Alloy wires
t'shrink with heat
| The wires return
to their natural
i ishape when
*1” cooled
Photo courtesy of the Texas Institute of intelligent bio-nano materials and structure
Shape Memory Alloys allow researchers to do things
formerly unheard of with metals, such as control
their size and shape. Above is an aerospace appli
cation for SMAs. Note the aircraft's bendable wings.
IVWW.TElCAJSHsLLLOF'FAJYfE.IWET O 979-822-2222
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