Design of adaptive structures using compliant mechanisms

Laxminarayana Saggere; Sridhar Kota

doi:10.1117/12.316940

27 July 1998 Design of adaptive structures using compliant mechanisms

Laxminarayana Saggere, Sridhar Kota

Proceedings Volume 3329, Smart Structures and Materials 1998: Smart Structures and Integrated Systems; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316940
Event: 5th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1998, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Static shape control of adaptive structures is currently an important and active research area in the smart structures field. Numerous actuation schemes using smart materials have been proposed and developed for shape control of structures. While the results of the smart material based technology is promising, it is also, however, showing more serious limitations such as scalability of laboratory-scale prototype models into real-scale models. In addition, the smart material based approach for shape control requires a multitude of actuators distributed throughout the host structure, the hence, complicates the control system. This paper introduces a novel alternative design concept for shape control of flexible adaptive structures using a single actuator which need not necessarily be smart material based. The novelty in this concept is that it employs distributed compliance in design--through compliant mechanisms, a class of mechanisms that transmit motion through inherent flexibility--rather than distributed actuation to accomplish the shape changes. The paper outlines a method for synthesis of such compliant mechanisms. The concept, and the synthesis method are illustrated through an example where a specified shape change in the leading edge of an airfoil structure is accomplished. The new concept has a great potential to not only eliminate the scalability problem, but also reduce the control complexity, the weight, and cost of the entire system as well.

Citation Download Citation

Laxminarayana Saggere and Sridhar Kota "Design of adaptive structures using compliant mechanisms", Proc. SPIE 3329, Smart Structures and Materials 1998: Smart Structures and Integrated Systems, (27 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316940

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