J042012 Study on Mechanical performance of Wave Shaped SMA Artificial Muscle : Theoretical Evaluation of Mechanical Deformation Behavior of SMA

Abstract

The mechanical shape recovery behavior of the wave shaped SMA (shape memory alloy) wire, which is available for lightweight and flexible artificial muscle, is analyzed using static explicit FEM (finite element method). Then, the analysis is compared with experimental results. Consequently, it was found that the FEM analysis represents well the load history obtained from loading at room temperature until shape recovery process due to heating. Thus, this FEM modeling is considered to be effective for the mechanical deformation analysis of SMA wire.