Shape memory technology for active assembly/disassembly: fundamentals, techniques and example applications
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present a review on utilizing shape memory technology (SMT) for active assembly/disassembly, i.e. assembly/disassembly without physically touching.
Design/methodology/approach
The fundamentals behind the shape memory effect (SME) in materials, in particular shape memory alloys (SMAs) and polymers, which are the cornerstones of SMT, are introduced, together with the possible approaches to implement this effect in active assembly/disassembly. Example applications for not only active assembly/ disassembly, but also programmed active disassembly are presented.
Findings
The advantages of utilizing SMT over conventional assembly/disassembly techniques are identified.
Originality/value
The paper introduces the fundamentals behind the SME and the basic approaches to implement the SMT in not only active assembly/disassembly, but also programmed active assembly.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The ABS/PC reported in Figure 29 was kindly provided by Nokia, Singapore. This project is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51178277), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-12-1013), People's Republic of China, and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. HIT.BRETIV.201304), People's Republic of China.
Citation
Sun, L., Huang, W.M., Lu, H.B., Wang, C.C. and Zhang, J.L. (2014), "Shape memory technology for active assembly/disassembly: fundamentals, techniques and example applications", Assembly Automation, Vol. 34 No. 1, pp. 78-93. https://doi.org/10.1108/AA-03-2013-031
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited