DefinePK

Abstract

The applications of magnetostrictive materials can be found in various disciplines. Due to their excellent actuation performance characteristics, magnetostrictive materials are employed as smart actuators in aerospace applications. As the technology of adaptive structures is favoring the use of smart actuators and sensors, magnetostrictive smart materials have justified their employment in morphing applications. The morphing aircraft technology presents new challenges in terms of actuation characteristics; these material actuators provide higher frequency and higher actuation efficiency. Also, the magnetostrictive materials can provide mechanisms both for actuation and sensing due to their property of bidirectional energy exchange between magnetic and elastic states. This paper presents an overview of magnetostrictive materials, their characteristic features and the applications with the aim to inspire morphing structures in aircraft. The challenges and trends in the applications of magnetostrictive materials have also been discussed.