Experimental verification of the shape memory alloy (SMA) spring actuator for application on in-pipe machine

Abstract

The paper deals with Shape memory alloy (SMA) spring analysis and its possibility for usage as actuator for in-pipe machine. In the paper the inner structure of SMA is introduced. Further, the experimental analysis of SMA contractor and expander was done. From the experiments was found that SMA spring has several disadvantages like long time of cooling and high electric power consumption. Using SMA spring as actuator for in-pipe machine has been obtained average velocity of in-pipe machine roughly 2 mm/min. Advantage of SMA spring as actuator is its good expansibility.

Keywords

• SM A
• spring
• actuator
• Matlab