Morphing High Temperature Shape Memory Alloy Actuators for Hypersonic Projectiles

Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) materials present unique benefits to the control and stabilization of hypersonic projectiles. Midé and the University of Colorado at Boulder is concluded in Phase I that SMA materials offer distinct advantages for the control of hypersonic projectile through the development and analysis of concepts that could achieve the desired flight control characteristics within the aero-thermal environment. For Phase II, Midé and the University of Colorado at Boulder are proposing to continue the Phase I work by developing more details models of the material behavior and projectiles response to aero-surface deflections. The University of Colorado at Boulder will also perform optimization studies in which coupled aerodynamic, structural and aero-thermal heating models will be used to minimize drag and aero-thermal heating through optimizing the airframe shape and through careful material selection. In Phase II high temperature materials will be experimentally studied to determine their technology readiness level and to quantify the benefits they offer as actuators for the hypersonic round. Alternative actuator solutions will also be studied to provide alternative actuation methods if high temperature shape memory alloys materials fail to achieve the desired actuation authority and bandwidth.Two options are proposed, where the Options will build on the Phase II Base effort by testing advanced prototypes actuator under increasing fidelity of simulated environmental tests. Wind tunnel testing in a trisonic wind tunnel is planned in the second option, if additional funding can be secured through other funding vehicles. BENEFITS: The proposed effort has the support of Raytheon, who is currently working on the U.S. Army's MRM (Mid Range Munitions) round. MRM is a "fire-and-forget," guided round and it is designed to be fired both by the Abrams tank and the planned mounted combat system, which is part of the future combat systems program. MRM faces many of the issues the proposed effort is attempting to solve and a successful program could have a significant impact on the success of the MRM program and other gun fired guided rounds, for example: LRLAP.