Shape Memory Alloys in Aerospace: A History of Development, Challenges, and Breakthroughs

Date and Time: 
Fri, 02/22/2019 - 2:30pm
Speaker: 
James Mabe
Affiliation: 
Technical Fellow, Boeing Research and Technology, St Louis MO
Location: 

Discovery Park B155

Abstract: 

For years the promise of Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators as an enabling technology has seemed poised to revolutionize the design of adaptive structures and smart systems for aircraft. Boeing’s successful flight tests in 2005 of Variable Geometry Chevrons (VGC) on a 777 and the 2012 Adaptive Trailing Edge (ATE) on a 737 clearly demonstrated a high technology readiness level (TRL) for SMA actuator systems. These tests confirmed that the unique capabilities of SMA technology can enable solutions for demanding aerospace requirements including reduced noise, reduced emissions, and improved efficiency. Yet despite so many advances in SMA technology there remain very few SMA actuator applications in production.

In this presentation Mr. Mabe will discuss many of the challenges faced while developing SMA technology for the aerospace industry, including a look at some of his successful and not so successful ventures. Mr. Mabe will discuss engineering, integration, and program challenges unique to SMA actuation that were encountered during the flight test programs. He will describe how the flight test team overcame each challenge, lessons learned, and suggestions for how those experiences can help accelerate the introduction of SMA actuation into aerospace applications.

Biography: 

Mr. Mabe is a Technical Fellow (TF) with Boeing Research and Technology (BR&T) in St. Louis, Missouri and currently serving a dual role as a Boeing research engineer and Visiting Scholar at Texas A&M University. He is a Boeing Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the field of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) and active materials for actuator systems. He has over 30 years of research experience at Boeing including an extensive background in laboratory and flight testing, aerospace systems, aeronautics, instrumentation and controls, and SMA materials. For the last 18 years he has worked on the development of aerospace actuators using active materials. Currently Mr. Mabe is leading a team of researchers focusing on SMA technologies including the development of design tools and allowables for SMA materials, investigating new materials such as High Temperature Shape Memory Alloys, developing standardized test methods to facilitate the certification of SMA applications, and the design, build and test of aerospace applications. He holds over 15 patents related to SMA actuator technology, with several patents pending. He graduated with a BSEE in Electrical Engineering from Seattle Pacific University in 1995.