Intelligent Materials and Structures

Intelligent Materials and Structures provides exceptional insights into designing intelligent materials and structures for special applications in engineering. The author introduces the fundamental materials science involved in research endeavors and simultaneously reviews the current state-of-the-art of intelligent materials and structures. Separate chapters are devoted to the thorough examination of theory and application of laminated composite materials, Piezoelectricity, Shape Memory Alloys, Electro- and Magnetorheological fluids as well as Magneto- and Electrostrictive materials. Each chapter contains numerous equations and figures describing theories, models and behavior of the intelligent material discussed. Special attention is paid to applications of intelligent materials to various structures in the aerospace and medical sector, piezoelectric motors as well as piezoelectric and electromagnetic energy harvesting. Contents: Introduction to Intelligent Materials and Structures Laminated Composite Materials Piezoelectricity Shape Memory Alloys Electrorheological and Magnetorheological Fluids Magnetostrictive and Electrostrictive Materials Applications of Intelligent Materials in Structures Energy Harvesting using Intelligent Materials Index