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Tuesday, May 9, 2006 - 4:10 PM
MEM9.3

Characterization of Nickel-Rich Nitinol Alloys for Actuator Development

J. Mabe, F. T. Calkins, R. T. Ruggeri, The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA

Recently a nickel-rich NiTinol alloy was used to fabricate compact, lightweight, and robust SMA actuators for a flight test of morphing aerostructures.  Chevrons are serrated aerodynamic devices along the trailing edge of a jet engine that have been shown to reduce jet noise. In 2005 Boeing successfully flight-tested morphing chevrons on a Boeing 777-300ER with GE-115B engines. In this paper the properties and characteristics of the Ni-40Ti (% by weight) alloy used for the flight test actuators are compared to those of Ni-45Ti and Ni-48Ti. The mechanical properties, transition temperatures, creep, 2-way shape memory effect, and the response to various heat treatments are reported for each alloy. The suitability of the nickel-rich alloys for actuator development is demonstrated using performance data from the flight test. The unique properties of the nickel-rich alloys, including material reliability and transition temperature stability, are shown to be invaluable to the successful development of morphing aerostructures.


Summary: In 2005 Boeing successfully flight-tested morphing chevrons on a Boeing 777-300ER with GE-115B engines. In this paper the properties and characteristics of the Ni-40Ti (% by weight) alloy used for the flight test actuators are compared to those of Ni-45Ti and Ni-48Ti.