Structronic Systems

A new emerging area focusing on the interaction of active materials, sensors, actuators, controls, electronics, and structures with numerous potential applications is being investigated at various institutions and laboratories world-wide with an ever-increasing sophistication of experiment, computation, modelling and analysis. This book offers a collection of contributions from these research centres that represent the present state-of-the-art and a sampling of exciting research areas in the study of active structures, devices and systems, being on the cutting edge of these investigations. The topics covered include nonlinear piezothermoelasticity of shells, nonlinear modelling of piezoelectric fibres, actuation using shape memory alloys, damage identifications and controls, piezoelectric electrostrictive and magnetostrictive actuators, electrorheological and magnetorheological materials, active damping layers, self-sensing actuations, fibre optical sensors, active polyelectrolyte gels, impedance modelling, programmable structures, deployable structures, embedded antennas, and active shunt circuits. Applications are ranging from micro electromechanical systems to large space structures, and many others in between, such as intelligent machines, adaptive structures, mechatronic systems, smart rotor-craft and robots. A comprehensive picture of these complex structronic systems and other aspects is presented in the book by researchers that are experts in each of these domains, giving up-to-date accounts of the present state of the field in all these aspects.