Lightweight ferromagnetic shape memory based vibration dampers: from passive to active control and energy harvesting (SMARTDAMP)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Stefan Mayr
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials ; Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Mechanics ; Fluid Mechanics
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 326128891

With the recent boom in lightweight construction and design, dampingand control of undesirable vibrations plays an increasing role innumerous engineering disciplines. Ferromagnetic shape memoryalloys (FSMA) constitute a rather novel class of mechano-magnetictransducers that intrinsically bear all properties required for passivedamping, active control, online monitoring as well as energyharvesting in vibrating systems. For application in lightweightconstructions, FSMA coatings as well as foil and polymer compositedamping elements are highly promising. Yet, tailored synthesis andthorough exploration of resulting properties is still greatlyunestablished at this point. With the final aim of establishing FSMAbased deliberately controlable damping elements, this project willfollow a stringent development route, ranging from synthesis,characterization and optimization of the damping elements to rigorousassessments of all flavors of performance and fatigue. Dampingpromisesto be tunable by synthesis conditions and deliberatelycontrollable by application of an external magnetic field orsupplemental eddy current damping. Concurrently acting as straingauges and energy harvesters, service-free active damping systemswith feedback and remote controllability are envisioned.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants