The concept of a steerable ducted propulsor is an attractive prospect, and the extension of rapidly maturing smart materials technology offers a way to achieve this goal. In particular, the development of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuation devices for underwater use has opened the way for a deformable 'Smart Duct'. This paper describes the preliminary development of a ducted propeller with a deformable shroud that redirects the propeller wash to yield direct steering force. The deformation is provided by a electrically-actuated nickel-titanium SMA cables. The potential advantages of this steering control technology for naval applications include: enhanced low speed maneuvering for submarines; reduction or elimination of conventional steering surfaces and of associated actuator noise; and elimination of hydraulic actuation hardware in favor of all-electric components. The paper includes computational studies of candidate Smart Duct designs, a description of relevant SMA actuator technology, and the results of model construction for in-water testing.
Ducted propulsors with steerable outflow using smart materials technology
2003
9 Seiten, 10 Bilder, 1 Tabelle, 28 Quellen
Conference paper
English
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