TERM PAPER

MECHANICS:
PYY101

Applications of Smart
materials in automobiles

Under the Guidance of

Mr. Amandeep Singh

Faculty of B.tech-MBA (ME), PHY101

Lovely Professional University

Submitted by

Sanjeev Kumar

Roll No. RK4001-B72

Reg. No. 11012052

DOA: 25-Sep-2010

DOR: 16-Oct-2010

DOS: 13-Nov-2010
Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Acknowledgment
First and foremost, we would like to thank to our
teacher of this project, Mr. Amandeep Singh for the
valuable guidance and advice. He inspired us greatly to
work in this project. His willingness to motivate us
contributed tremendously to our project. We also would
like to thank his for showing us some example that
related to the topic of our project.

Besides, we would like to thank the authority of Lovely

Professional University (LPU) for providing us with a
good environment and facilities to complete this
project. Also, we would like to take this opportunity to
thank to the Centre of Affiliated Diploma Programme
(CADP) of Multimedia University (MMU) for offering
this subject, Computing Project. It gave us an
opportunity to participate and learn about the operation
of flights ticket reservation. In addition, we would also
like to thank my senior friends who provide us valuable
information as the guidance of our project.

Finally, an honourable mention goes to our families and

friends for their understandings and supports on us in
completing this project. Without helps of the particular
that mentioned above, we would face many difficulties
while doing this project.

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Abstract
The materials which are applied in modem motor
vehicles can be considered to be optimally
accommodated to the actual demands. Normally a
change of materials is only required if by that a cost
reduction can be realized, or if the demands change.
Such changes at present or in the near future mainly
concern ecological aspects: consumption reduction;
weight reduction; low emission of pollutants by
vehicles and in the production process; recycling of
materials. Those materials in question which better
accommodate the new requirements can be: improved
variants of actually applied materials; fully developed
materials approved already in other technical areas but
not yet applied in automotive engineering; newly
developed materials. Starting from the actual
conception examples will be given for each category.
They will show that the costs of future materials tend to
be higher, but that even with more expensive materials
sometimes the cost of a component can be reduced.

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Table of Contents
Acknowledgement……………………………………. 2
Abstract........................................................................ 3
Table of Contents…………………………………..... 4
List of Tables…………………………………………. 5
List of Figure………………………………...……….. 5
Introduction…………………………………………... 6

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Introduction
With the development of material science, many new, high-quality, and cost-efficient
Materials have come into use in automobile. Smart materials are material that have one or
more properties that can be significantly changed in a controlled fashion by external stimuli,
such as stress, temperature, moisture, pH, electric or magnetic fields. Smart materials is a
general term for a broad category of multifunctional materials for which a specific property
(optical, mechanical, electronic, automobile, etc.) can sense the environment and can be
controllably modified. Many of these materials and structures emulate biological systems that
can adapt to change in their environment, of these material involves combining several
technological disciplines, including materials science, chemistry, solid state physics,
nanotechnology and robotic.

Smart Material
These are the substances that have one or more properties that can be changed in a controlled
fashion by external stimuli. These external stimuli may be of any kind such as stress,
temperature, moisture, pH and even electric and magnetic field.

Science and technology have made amazing developments in the design of machinery and
electronics using smart and standard materials which do not have particularly special
properties. Some such materials have the ability to change shape of size simply by adding a
little bit of heat or to change from a liquid to a solid almost instantly when near a magnet,
these materials are called smart materials.

Smart materials have one or

more properties that can be
dramatically adapted. A variety
of mart materials already exists
and is being researched
extensively. Some items are
already incorporation smart
materials as like that
coffeepots, cars, the
international space station,
eyeglasses, and the number of
applications for them is
growing steadily.

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Smart materials produce direct, inherent physical responses to signals such as temperature,
voltage, pressure, magnetic fields, light, and so on. Though the mechanical behaviour of an
SM actuator often is unimpressive in isolation, the ability to use a very simple device to
produce specific mechanical action in response to specific conditions or signals can
dramatically improve the overall performance of a device. Designers can use SMs to simplify
products, add features, improve performance, or increase reliability with relatively little
mechanical complexity.

Advanced man-made composites such as glass and carbon fibre reinforced plastics can be
tailored to suit the requirements of their end application, but only to a single combination of
properties. Whereas, the materials and structures involved in natural systems have the
capability to sense their environment, process this data, and respond. They are truly ‘smart’
or intelligent, integrating information technology with structural engineering and actuation or
locomotion.

Smart Materials in Automobiles

There are many possibilities for such materials and structures in the synthetic world. Smart
Materials will solve engineering problems with unachievable efficiency so far and provide an
opportunity for new wealth creating products.
Smart material is generally defined as a material that can change one or more of its properties
in response to an external stimulus. For example, the shape of the material will change in
response to different temperature or application of electrical charge or presenting of magnetic
field. In general, it can be catalogued to three main groups, which are thermo-to-mechanical,
electrical-to-mechanical and magnetic-to-mechanical. In the other hand, there are some
materials which termed as “smart material” does not have the properties stated above, like the
material with self-healing property is also termed as “smart material”.

The demand in the automobile sector for greater comfort in the vehicle is of a high
importance alongside the requirements for a low emission of pollutants. With regard to a
higher comfort the reduction of the interior noise level is mostly associated with a higher
structural weight. It is for this reason that the application of so-called intelligent materialises
appropriate since these can be used to realize an overall adaptive system. The materials under
discussion are pizeceramic foils and fibbers which can easily be fitted to thin-walled
structures like a roof panel or a dash-board. Investigations have shown that the knowledge of
the dynamic structural behaviour is vital at the design of an adaptive system. Mostly this
knowledge can only be gained by using sophisticated numerical models associated with a
great effort of computing time. In order not to expand the computing time a model has been
developed which allows a fast assessment of the dynamic behaviour of a structure with
integrated smart materials. The results of this model are presented for a flat steel plate with
bonded piezoceramic foils. The accuracy of this model is being proved by the presentation of
experimental results

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Materials and Application

The development of durable and cost effective high performance construction materials
and systems is important for the economic well being of a country mainly because the cost
of civil infrastructure constitutes a major portion of the national wealth. To address the
problems of deteriorating civil infrastructure, research is very essential on smart materials.
This paper highlights the use of smart materials for the optimal performance and safe
design of buildings and other infrastructures particularly those under the threat of
earthquake and other natural hazards. The peculiar properties of the shape memory alloys
for smart structures render a promising area of research in this field.

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA)

The term shape memory refers to the ability of certain alloys (Ni – Ti, Cu – Al – Zn etc.)
to undergo large strains, while recovering their initial configuration at the end of the
deformation process spontaneously or by heating without any residual deformation .The
particular properties of SMA’s are strictly associated to a solid-solid phase transformation
which can be thermal or stress induced. Currently, SMAs are mainly applied in medical
sciences, electrical, aerospace and mechanical engineering and also can open new
applications in civil engineering specifically in seismic protection of buildings.

Its properties which enable them for civil engineering application are

1. Repeated absorption of large amounts of strain energy under loading

without permanent deformation. Possibility to obtain a wide range of cyclic
behaviour –from supplemental and fully recentering to highly dissipating-by
simply varying the number and/or the characteristics of SMA components.
2. Usable strain range of 70%.
3. Extraordinary fatigue resistance under large strain cycles
4. Their great durability and reliability in the long run.

Structural Uses

1) Active of structures

The concept of adaptive behavior has been an underlying theme of active control of
structures which are subjected to earthquake and other environmental type of loads.
The structure adapts its dynamic characteristics to meet the performance objectives at
any instant. A futuristic smart bridge system (An artist rendition) is shown below :Fig.1
(3)

(Courtesy: USA Today dt. 03.03.97). Sun and Sun (6) used a thermo mechanical
approach to develop a constitutive relation for bending of a composite beam with
continuous SMA fibers embedded eccentric to neutral axis. The authors concluded that
SMA’s can be successfully used for the active structural vibration control. Thompson et
al (3) also conducted an analytical investigation on the use of SMA wires to dampen
the dynamic response of a cantilever beam constrained by SMA wires.

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

2) Passive control of structures

Two families of passive seismic control devices exploiting the peculiar properties of
SMA kernel components have been implemented and tested within the MANSIDE
project (Memory Alloys for New Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation Devices).
They are

Special braces for framed structures and isolation devices for buildings and
bridges. Fig.2.shows the arrangement of SMA brace in the scaled frame model and the
reduced scale isolation system.

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

3) Smart Material Tag

These smart material tags can be used in composite structures. These tags can be
monitored externally throughout the life of the structure to relate the internal material
condition. Such measurements as stress, moisture, voids, cracks and discontinuities
may be interpreted via a remote sensor (6)

4) Retrofitting

SMAs can use as self-stressing fibres and thus they can be applied for retrofitting. Self
stressing fibres are the ones in which reinforcement is placed into the composite in a
smart material in automobiles industries. They make active lateral confinement of
beams and columns a more practical solution. Self stressing jackets can be
manufactured for rehabilitation of existing infrastructure or for new construction

5) Self-healing

Experimentally proved self-healing behaviour (5) which can be applied at a material

micro level widens their spectrum of use. Here significant deformation beyond the first
crack can be fully recovered and cracks can be fully closed.

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

6) Self-stressing for Active Control

It can be used with cementations fibercomposites with some presets, which impart
self-stressing thus avoiding difficulties due to the provision of large actuators in active
control which require continuous maintenance of mechanical parts and rapid
movement which in turn created additional inertia forces.

In addition to SMA’s some other materials such as polymers can also be temporarily
frozen in a restrained state that have a potential to be used for manufacturing of self-
stressing cementations composites (4).
7) Structural Health Monitoring
Use of piezo transducers, surface bonded to the structure or embedded in the walls of
the structure can be used for structural health monitoring and local damage detection.
Problems of vibration and UPV testing can be avoided here. Jones et. al., (7) applied
neural networks to find the magnitude and location of an impact on isotropic plates and
experimented using an array of piezo-transuders surface bonded to the plate.

Application of Smart Material in

Automobiles
There are many possibilities for such materials and structures in the manmade world.
Engineering structures could operate at the very limit of their performance envelopes and to
their structural limits without fear of exceeding either. These structures could also give
maintenance engineers a full report on performance history, as well as the location of defects,
whilst having the ability to counteract unwanted or potentially dangerous conditions such as
excessive vibration, and effects self repair. The Office of Science and Technology Foresight
Programme has stated that `Smart materials ... will have an increasing range of applications

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

(and) the underlying sciences in this area ... must be maintained at a standard which helps
achieve technological objectives', which means that smart materials and structures must solve
engineering problems with hitherto unachievable efficiency, and provide an opportunity for
new wealth creating products.

The development of durable and cost effective high performance construction materials
and systems is important for the economic well being of a country mainly because the cost
of civil infrastructure constitutes a major portion of the national wealth. To address the
problems of deteriorating civil infrastructure, research is very essential on smart materials.
This paper highlights the use of smart materials for the optimal performance and safe
design of buildings and other infrastructures particularly those under the threat of
earthquake and other natural hazards. The peculiar properties of the shape memory alloys
for smart structures render a promising area of research in this field.

Smart Materials in Aerospace

Some materials and structures can be termed ‘sensual’ devices. These are structures that can
sense their environment and generate data for use in health and usage monitoring systems
(HUMS). To date the most well established application of HUMS are in the field of
aerospace, in areas such as aircraft checking.

An airline such as British Airways requires over 1000 employees to service their 747s with
extensive routine, ramp, intermediate and major checks to monitor the health and usage of the
fleet. Routine checks involve literally dozens of tasks carried out under approximately 12
pages of densely typed check headings. Ramp checks increase in thoroughness every 10 days
to 1 month, hanger checks occur every 3 months, ‘interchecks’ every 15 months, and major
checks every 24000 flying hours. In addition to the manpower resources, hanger checks
require the aircraft to be out of service for 24 hours, interchecks require 10 days and major
checks 5 weeks. The overheads of such safety monitoring are enormous.

An aircraft constructed from a ‘sensual structure’ could self-monitor its performance to a

level beyond that of current data recording, and provide ground crews with enhanced health
and usage monitoring. This would minimise the overheads associated with HUMS and allow
such aircraft to fly for more hours before human intervention is required.

Demand made on the

materials

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

The demands made on components and materials which result from such expectations are
also shown. Where materials already in use optimally fulfill current requirements, there is
little prospect of alternative materials gaining acceptance; however, in two situations they
have a chance of displacing the existing materials:

1. Assuming that the demands remain unchanged, the existing material would only be
replaced where such a measure also resulted in a cost reduction. In general, improved
fulfillment of demands already adequately covered by the existing material - for example
with regard to increased strength or better corrosion-resistance - does not represent a
sufficient reason for a substitution.
2. Where requirements are modified and where these new requirements, including minimized
cost, are not met by the conventional materials, the new materials are substituted for the old.
Modified demands result from a change in the social and legal environment and/or a change
in customer attitudes. It has to be emphasized that fulfilling the requirements may not be seen
under the isolated aspect of materials, but always must consider the completed part or
component, including design and manufacturing aspects.
The current distribution of automobile materials with respect to the total weight is shown in
Fig. 2 as is a projection to the year 2000. The reasons for the probable shifts in proportions
are discussed below. To understand future developments, it is necessary to analyze how
demands on the automobile will change in future years.

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For the foreseeable future, ecological requirements emerging from the social and legal
environment - the need to protect the natural environment and use resources sparingly - will
almost certainly represent a major factor for change.

Scope of smart material in automobiles

Japan:
Older Smart cars equipped with engine sizes smaller than 660 cubic centimetres (40 cu in) fit
into the Kei car category of cars in Japan, and are eligible for a range of lower taxes.
However, recent models with a larger engine do not meet the Kei qualifications. Because of
high taxation on older cars in Japan, many older used Smart cars are exported to other
countries with right-hand drive, like Great Britain and South Africa. An official version of
the Smart Fortwo called the 'Smart K' has been released to fit the Kei car category. English
musician, Steve Appleton (musician) is featured in a Smart TV commercial, running
in Japan during 2010.
China
Smart was shown in April 2008 at the Beijing Auto Show 2008. Smart Fortwo started the
pre-sales in October 2008 and the Smart vending machine road show in 12 cities from
October 2008 to February 2009.
Hong Kong
Smart is already available in Hong Kong with one authorized dealer.
Smart in North America
The 2008-2011 (North America) smart fortwo Type 451 was totally redesigned, with a 70 HP
naturally aspirated Mitsubishi-sourced gasoline engine of 999 cc for North America, up from
the 799 cc cdi diesel, with the attendant loss of fuel economy. smart decided not to import the
cdi version of the 451, now with 55 DIN HP, although this decision has led to criticism that

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the new smart does not get the fuel economy that many would expect from such a small car.
The 799 cc, far more fuel efficient diesel is sold in Europe and some other World markets.
The BRABUS Tailor-Made program is not well advertised in Canada, but no less than 15
Tailor-Made cars have been produced to Canadian specification. These vehicles are sent to
the BRABUS factory in Bottrop, Germany, where the standard ex-works cars are stripped to
the shell and repainted/retrimmed to suit individual customers' tastes. The first four are the
BRABUS Canada 1; three in bright red (including the tridion, two cabriolets and one coupé)
and one in all white (a cabriolet). Aside from the special paint, all had every BRABUS part
fitted to the body and interior, and the seats, door panels and dashboards were trimmed in
black Nappa leather and Alcantara. Three of these cars are in British Columbia and one (a red
cabrio with silver alloys) is in Greater Toronto, Ontario. The next BRABUS Tailor-Made
Canadian car was a one-off all orange 451 made for a customer in Vancouver. The other ten
were all ordered by Mercedes-Benz Canada as the special "edit10n" of the Canadian
BRABUS 451 (with only 70 HP), painted in metallic dark grey with an orange Nappe leather
interior.

Canada

The smart fortwo was introduced in Canada in late 2004 and was sold through Mercedes-
Benzdealers. Demand was initially heavy with up to 6-month waiting lists in major urban
areas in the spring of 2005. The vehicle has been
especially popular for commuters, small car fanatics,
people needing light delivery and service vehicles, with
many carrying custom paint jobs or stick-on graphics
boldly advertising an associated business or service.
However, the demand relaxed slightly in the second year
on the market, and a very tight supply of remining 2006
model 450 cdis made 2007 sales appear to be a relatively
weak. However, sales rebounded strongly once the new 451 started arriving. Canadian smart
cdis cannot be registered in some states in the US, though at least 20 are known to be there.
10,239 smart fortwo cdis had been sold in Canada by the first month of 2008. Just before the
Type 450 ended production (after which the production had equaled 770,256 cars) Mercedes-
Benz Canada built-up stock of cdis to tide dealers over until the successor model 451 arrived
at the end of 2007.
The Canadian version of the Type 450 smart fortwo cdi sold to 915 customers over three
months in 2004; 4080 were sold in 2005; and 3023 in 2006. Virtually all the deliveries in
2004 and many of the deliveries in 2005 were to long-time smart fans who had been waiting
for their car for years, which largely accounts for the higher numbers. Through 2007, sales
totalled about 2200, with the last few cars being sold in the first month of 2008, when the
new Type 451 was already on sale. The smart's strongest sales performance ever in Canada
was in April 2007, when more than 500 units were sold. Sales are strongest (per capita) in
Western Canada, with Vancouver Island and Vancouver being especially hot markets for
smart.
United States

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Before 2008, Smart cars were only available in the United States as "grey market" imports,
such asZAP. U.S. federal regulations allow certain grey market importing in large quantities
provided the vehicles are modified and tested to conform to U.S. safety and emissions
regulations. Smart cars were imported into the United States by "The Defiance Company
LLC", modified by G&K Automotive Conversion in Santa Ana, California, and distributed
and sold by independent dealerships which were not affiliated with Mercedes. U.S.
regulations did not permit the purchase and import of used Smart CDi vehicles from Canada,
as the diesel powered Canadian Smarts did not meet American emissions regulations.
In June 2006, DaimlerChrysler confirmed that Smart would be officially launched in the
United States in the first quarter of 2008. The cars are offered through a dealership holding
company Penske Automotive Group, which created a new U.S. dealership network for the
brand under the name Smart USA.[30] Initially, an updated gasoline powered Fortwo was
offered, starting around US$12,000.[31] The new model made its debut at European auto
shows in November 2006.
"Hybrid Technologies" plans to sell an electric version of the Smart vehicle in the U.S.
starting at US$35,000. It is being called a hybrid careven though the vehicle is all-electric.
The electric Smart car will have a range of 120 to 150 miles (190–240 km), a top speed of
80 mph (130 km/h), and charge in 5 to 6 hours using a standard 110 V AC outlet. An electric
Smart is currently undergoing testing in the UK and will only be offered to commercial
clients as a trial for the time being.[32][33] The electric model is scheduled for a U.S. release for
the 2012 model year with some test market cars surfacing
in 4th quarter 2010.
A Forbes article has been critical of the stated reasons
that Daimler-Chrysler gave for introducing the car in the
United States.[34] The Smart fortwo is the most fuel-
efficient gasoline-engined car for sale in the US;
however, according to the EPA, the Smart's fuel
efficiency is lower than the fuel efficiency of some
hybrids such as the Ford Fusion hybrid Toyota Prius, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the 2-
seat Honda Insight (making it the fourth most fuel efficient vehicle in the U.S.), which
achieve 45/48, 45/40, and 61/70 respectively while the Smart achieves 33 city and 41
highway, though the Smart fortwo, which is not a hybrid, costs about half as much as a
hybrid in the US.
The unique design of the Smart has received much attention in the U.S. In its April 2008
issue, Men's Vogue raised the question, "in a nation where your supersized car is your castle,
is the Smart too mini for a man?".[35]
To obtain a Smart originally required obtaining a "reservation" costing $99 through a dealer
or over the internet. The waiting time in January 2009 was approximately 12 months;
however, as of July 2009 there was no wait to obtain a vehicle and dealers have them in stock
for immediate delivery.
On January 25, 2010, Smart USA began its first lease program in the US market for smart
fortwo models.[36] The program was scheduled to last through February 28, 2010, but has
been extended indefinitely despite lack of leasing sales.
Smart USA has appointed its first dealer in Puerto Rico. The new dealer is located in San
Juan, Puerto Rico and is part of the Penske Automotive Group. It is also a part of Triangle
Automotive Group, an automotive retailer in Puerto Rico.[37]

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Applications of Smart materials in automobiles

Mexico
Smart offers the hardtop and convertible models of the Fortwo coupé in Mexico. The Smart
cars were first introduced to the country in 2003, and were sold in department
stores Suborns and Liverpool. Later Mercedes Benz dealers started to offer the car ,which
although very attractive to the public was considered very expensive and was seen as a toy
car only for young people.
Currently Smart cars are still offered in the country but with little acceptance, with only the
For two model available.
Smart cars have fierce competition with the Hyundai Atos, Pontiac Matiz, and Chevrolet
Chevy, which are compacts with low gas consumption at less than half the cost of a Smart
Car but with more space for passengers.
Smart in Australia
Since 2003 Smart has been for sale in Australia. All Smart models that have been produced
have been sold in Australia. The Smart is currently sold through Mercedes-Benz Dealerships.
Recently Smart has become popular among young people in urban areas of Australia,
particularly in its largest cities.

Advances in the application of MR materials are parallel to the development of new, more
sophisticated MR materials with better properties and stability. Many smart systems and
structures would benefit from the change in viscosity or other material properties of MR.
Nowadays, these applications include brakes, dampers, clutches and shock absorbers systems

Conclusion
The technologies using smart materials are useful for both new and existing constructions.
Of the many emerging technologies available the few described here need further research
to evolve the design guidelines of systems. Codes, standards and practices are of crucial
importance for the further development.

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