Papers by Author: Yan Ju Liu

Abstract: DSC test is carried out to determine the phase transformation temperatures of a NiTi SMA, which include martensitic starting temperature, martensitic finishing temperature, austenitic starting temperature and austenitic finishing temperature. The mechanical behaviors of shape memory alloy (SMA) torsion rod are investigated by using Zhou’s shear constitutive equation of SMA and the theorem of circular shaft in mechanics of materials. A critical torque equation is developed to describe the relationship between the martensitic phase transformation critical torque of SMA torsion rod and temperature.

Abstract: The mechanical behaviors of epoxy-based shape memory polymer (SMP) with linear monomer at the temperatures of 25oC, 42oC, 56oC and 66oC are respectively investigated through the tension tests. Material parameter equations are supposed to describe the relationships between the material parameters of SMP with linear monomer and temperature. Numerical calculations show that the supposed material parameter equations well predict the relationships between the material parameters of SMP with linear monomer and temperature.

Abstract: The glass transition temperatures of epoxy-based shape memory polymers (SMPs), which contain a flexibilizer at various contents of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% respectively, are determined through DMA tests. The shape memory effect of such materials is investigated through shape recovery experiments. Experimental results show that the content of flexibilizer has much influence on the shape memory effect of epoxy-based SMP. A shape recovery equation is developed based on the results of shape recovery experiment. Numerical calculations show that the developed shape recovery equation well predicts the shape recovery behaviors of epoxy-based SMP.

Abstract: The shape memory polymer (SMP) materials are able to change these shape in response to external stimulus such as stress, temperature, solvent, PH, magnetic, electricity or light. The above-mentioned methods are only to recover initial shape of the deformed SMP, could not give the SMP predeformation. In this paper, magnetic field gives the shape memory polymer composite (SMPC) pre-deformation was studied, through on and off of magnetic field the two-way activation of SMPC was achieved. Shape memory effect of shape memory composite in magnetic field was studied. The SMPC was filled by nickel powder, and the nickel powder was treated by silane coupling agent. The Tg of shape memory composite was measured by dynamic mechanical analyzer. The surface element of treated nickel powder was analysized with XPS. The results indicated that the shape of composite filled by untreated nickel powder did not change in the magnetic field, while the composite filled by treated nickel powder was drawn in the magnetic field. The tensile stretch was decrease with the increase of nickel powder content in the shape memory composite. The addition of silane coupling agent onto nickel powder surface was helpful for the dispersion of nickel in polymer.

Abstract: Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests are conducted on styrene-based shape memory polymer(SMP) to investigate its glass transition behaviors. The tensile tests at various temperatures are operated to detect the stress-strain relationship of styrene-based SMP. The material elastic moduli and yielding limits at 25oC, 30oC, 40oC, and 50oC are determined according to the results of tensile test. A new material parameter function is supposed to express the glass transition behavior of styrene-based SMP. The shape memory thermo-mechanical cycle of styrene-based SMP is numerically simulated by Tobushi’s constitutive equation coupled with the new material parameter function. Numerical results show the new material parameter function can express the thermo-mechanical properties of styrene-based SMP effectively.

Abstract: Shape memory alloy is a good candidate for realizing the passive control of structural vibration due to its excellent characteristic of energy dissipation. In this paper, the damping characteristic of shape memory alloy is quantitatively described based on Liang’s phase transformation model and thermo-mechanical constitutive equation for shape memory alloy. The vibration performances of a beam structure with shape memory alloy damper are investigated based on basic knowledge of vibration theorem. Numerical calculations show that the vibration of beam structure is well reduced by using the shape memory alloy damper.

Abstract: A new system of thermoset styrene-based shape-memory polymer (SMP) filled with carbon black (CB) is investigated. To realize the electroactive stimuli of SMP, the electrical conductivity of SMP filled with various amounts of CB is characterized. The percolation threshold of electrically conductive SMP filled with CB is about 3% (volume fraction of CB), which is much lower than many other electrically conductive polymers. When applying a voltage of 30V, the shape recovery process of SMP/CB(10 vol%) can be realized in about 100s. In addition, the thermomechanical properties are also characterized by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC).

Abstract: This paper is concerned about the synthesis of shape memory styrene copolymer and the investigation of the influence of radialization dosage on its shape memory effect. As one of novel actuators in smart materials, shape memory polymers (SMPs) have been investigated intensively. Styrene copolymer with proper cross-linking degree can exhibit shape memory effect (SME). In this paper, the influence of radialization on shape memory effect of styrene copolymer was investigated through altering the dosage of radialization. The radialization dosage of styrene copolymer was determined by changed radicalization time. The glass transition temperature (Tg) of styrene copolymerwas measured by Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). The shape memory performance of styrene copolymer with different radiated dosage was also evaluated. Results indicated that the shape memory polymer (SMP) was synthesized successfully. The Tg increased from 60°C to 65°C followed by increasing the radialization dosage. Moreover, the SMP experienced good SME and the largest reversible strain of the SMP reached as high as 150%. When heating above Tg+30°C (different copolymers performed different Tg), the shape recovery speed of the copolymers increased with increasing the radialization dosage. However, the recovery speed decreased with increasing the radialization dosage at the same temperature of 95°C.

Abstract: Recently, there is interest in triggering shape recovery of shape-memory polymers(SMPs) by novel non-external heating. In this paper, many hard works have been carried out to make SMP induced by solution. The main challenge in the development of such polymer systems is the conversion of solution-induced effects at the molecular level to macroscopic movement of working pieces. This paper presents a systematic study on the effects of solution on the glass transition temperature (Tg). The results reveal that the hydrogen bonding of shape memory polymer (SMP) was aroused by the absorbed solution that significantly reduces Tg of polymer. The mechanism behind it is solution firstly intenerates polymeric materials till the Tg of polymer lowered down to the temperature of ambient, then hydrogen bonding interaction improves the flexibility of polymeric macro-molecular chains. Thus, the shape memory effect (SME) can undergo solution-driven shape recovery. In addition, it provides a new approach that the SMP can be induced by applying non-energy stimulus. The Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) results reveal that the modulus of polymer was softened gradually with immersion time increasing. The experimental result is approximate to the theory.

Abstract: The acrylic acid and silicone are common dielectric elastomer materials. These actuators have shown excellent activate properties including large strains up to 380% and high energy densities up to 3.4 J/g, high efficiency, high responsive speed , good reliability and durability, etc. When a voltage is applied on the compliant electrodes of the dielectric elastomers, the polymer shrinks along with the electric field and expands in the plain area which erects the orientation of the line. In this paper, we synthesize a novel silicone dielectric elastomer with high dielectric constant, large strain and high force output. Pre-strain and certain driving electric field are applied on the novel silicone film, respectively. The strain responsing to the Maxwell stress is measured. Using the large deformation theory of finite element method to simulate the deformable behavior of materials, the simulation results agree with the experiment. The coupling effect of the mechanics and electric fields applied on the electrode of the dielectric elastomers is inverstigated. The finite element simulation of large deformation theory can be used to describe the dielectric elastomers materials large deformation that induced by the static electric field.