Smart Materials, Precision Sensors/Actuators, Smart Structures, and Structronic Systems

Many electroactive functional materials have been used in small- and microscale transducers and precision mechatronic control systems for years. It was not until the mid-1980s that scientists started integrating electroactive materials with large-scale structures as in situ sensors and/or actuators,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Mechanics of advanced materials and structures 2004-07, Vol.11 (4-5), p.367-393
Main Authors: TZOU, H. S., LEE, H.-J., ARNOLD, S. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Many electroactive functional materials have been used in small- and microscale transducers and precision mechatronic control systems for years. It was not until the mid-1980s that scientists started integrating electroactive materials with large-scale structures as in situ sensors and/or actuators, thus introducing the concept of smart materials, smart structures, and structronic systems. This paper provides an overview of present smart materials and their sensor/actuator/structure applications. Fundamental multifield optomagnetopiezoelectric-thermoelastic behaviors and novel transducer technologies applied to complex multifield problems involving elastic, electric, temperature, magnetic, light, and other interactions are emphasized. Material histories, characteristics, material varieties, limitations, sensor/actuator/structure applications, and so forth of piezoelectrics, shape-memory materials, electro- and magnetostrictive materials, electro- and magnetorheological fluids, polyelectrolyte gels, superconductors, pyroelectrics, photostrictive materials, photoferroelectrics, magneto-optical materials, and so forth are thoroughly reviewed.
ISSN:1537-6494
1537-6532
DOI:10.1080/15376490490451552