Book Description

This book describes several novel applications currently under investigation that exploit the unique actuator and sensor capabilities of smart material compounds. In addition to present and projected applications, this book provides comprehensive coverage of both linear and nonlinear modeling techniques necessary to characterize materials in a manner that facilitates transducer design and control development. The author focuses on ferroelectric, magnetic, and shape memory compounds and also addresses applications exploiting amorphous and ionic polymers, magnetorheological compounds, and fiber optic sensors. By providing a unified treatment of both linear and nonlinear characterization frameworks, Smart Material Systems: Model Development encompasses both low to moderate drive levels, which constitute the primary focus of most present texts, and the high drive regimes dictated by present and future applications. This will significantly enhance the design of transducers and control systems which exploit the unique actuator and sensor capabilities provided by smart material compounds.