Tunable impedance load-bearing structures

Abstract

A tunable impedance load bearing structure includes a support comprising an active material configured for supporting a load, wherein the active material undergoes a change in a property upon exposure to an activating condition, wherein the change in the property is effective to change an impedance characteristic of the support.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The present disclosure generally relates to tunable impedance load bearing structures, and more particularly, to active material based tunable impedance load bearing structures.[0002]Load bearing structures such as beams, columns, rails, cables, panels, brackets, and the like are typically designed to withstand various static and dynamic external and internal forces and moments while maintaining their shape and position within acceptable deformation tolerances. A critical characteristic of these structural applications is stiffness. Currently, stiffness characteristics of a given load bearing structure can be improved by optimizing structure geometry and / or materials to suit certain loading conditions (e.g., foam filling hollow cross sections of a load bearing structure). For dynamic applications, the damping characteristics of the material may play a more critical role. In the case of a load bearing structure which is experiencing vibratory excitation, the damping p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]A method for changing an impedance characteristic of a load bearing structure includes, disposing a load bearing structure intermediate a substrate and a load, wherein the load bearing structure comprises a support configured for supporting the load,

Problems solved by technology

As such, the structure may not perform as desired under loading conditions outside the set of specific conditions focused on during design and fabrication of the structure.

Moreover, the specific characteristics desired at the time of manufacture and / or installation of the load bearing structure may actually be detrimental in certain situations, i.e., under circumstances where dramatically different load bearing characteristics would be advantageous.

Prior art load bearing structures are unable to make such significant changes in characteristics, rather these structures simply provide a fixed response, which is inherent to the characteristics contemplated at the time of design.

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