MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SHAPE MEMORY POLYMERS TO ASSESS CANDIDACY AS MORPHING AIRCRAFT SKIN

Abstract

This thesis presents the results of research with the purpose of determining the mechanical properties of shape memory polymers and evaluating the material's potential use as a morphing aircraft skin. Morphing aircraft undergo large scale deformations to their wing planforms in order to perform better in different types of missions. The skin on the wing must be ductile enough to stretch but remain strong enough to withstand out of plane aerodynamic loads. Shape memory polymers exhibit large decreases in their elastic modulii when heated above a glass transition temperature which allows them to withstand large strains. This ability has lead to the belief that shape memory polymers could perform well as morphing aircraft skins. Several tests that reveal mechanical properties important to a morphing wing skin are performed on a commercially available shape memory polymer and the results are presented and discussed in this study.iv