Shape Memory Alloy for Aeronautical Applications

The aim of this thesis is to illustrate innovative applications of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) in aeronautics. After a brief introduction of the material intrinsic properties, illustrating and explaining the genesis of the Shape Memory Effect and of the Superelastic Effect, which determine the interest on this material from the scientific community and the industrial world, illustrations and explanations of the main material constitutive models are presented. We conclude by exposing, through applications, how you can integrate and exploit these effects in aeronautics. Thanks to these two material intrinsic properties it has been possible to improve most of the problems that are still present during the design phase of an aircraft. In particular the innovative design concept of high lift systems and the improvement in response of the aeronautical structures subject to impact at medium-high energy have been studied and developed. Thanks to the developed numerical and experimental methods it has been possible to analyze, design and verify numerically the solutions and then confirm totally or partially with experimental tests.