Application of shape memory alloy wire actuator for precision position control of a composite beam

In this paper are presented the design and experimental results of using a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire as an actuator for position control of a comp osite beam. The composite beam is honeycomb structured, having wires of SMA embedded in one of its face sheets for the purposes of active actuation. N ickel-titanium SMA wires were chosen as actuating elements due to their hig h recovery stress (>700 MPa) and tolerance to high strain (up to 8%). A sim ple proportional and derivative controller plus a feed-forward current is d esigned and implemented for controlling the tip position of the composite b eam. Experiments have demonstrated the effectiveness of the SMA wire as an actuator for active position control of a composite beam.