Performance of a shape memory alloy coil-shaped clamp for enhanced normal force in pin-and-receptacle electrical connectors

Citation
I. Kulisic et al., Performance of a shape memory alloy coil-shaped clamp for enhanced normal force in pin-and-receptacle electrical connectors, IEEE T COMP, 23(2), 2000, pp. 227-233
Citations number
19
Categorie Soggetti
Material Science & Engineering
Journal title
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON COMPONENTS AND PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIES
ISSN journal
15213331 → ACNP
Volume
23
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
227 - 233
Database
ISI
SICI code
1521-3331(200006)23:2<227:POASMA>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Electrical connectors can experience a significant degradation in performan ce due to fretting corrosion, which is particularly problematic when the co nnector undergoes vibration, Fretting corrosion can be reduced or eliminate d if the relative motion between the pin and receptacle is reduced or elimi nated, One practical means of reducing the relative motion is to increase t he normal force between the pin and receptacle. Unfortunately, in; creasing the normal force has traditionally implied increasing the insertion and re moval forces required for mating and separation of the pin and receptacle. In this paper we describe a connector in which the normal force between the pin and receptacle is increased after the connector is mated and decreased before separation. We implement our approach for connectors that are put i n service in elevated temperature environments by placing a coiled shape me mory alloy (SMA) wire around the receptacle part of a standard pin-and-rece ptacle connector. We experimentally demonstrate the efficacy of this approa ch by quantifying the increase in normal force between the pin and receptac le and by showing a substantial increase in connector lifetime in a vibrato ry environment.