Method and apparatus for high-speed fluid flow control

A method for controlling flow of fluid in a system including a valve having a body having a base portion and wall portions, an aperture defined in the base portion for ingress and egress of the fluid, an actuating element attached between the wall portions, the actuating element comprising a material having a plurality of physical states that varies as a function of applied voltage, and electrodes the method comprising steps of:

• applying the voltage to the electrodes to actuate the actuating element while the actuating element is in a first physical state;
• maintaining the application of the voltage to buckle the actuating element into a second physical state;
• removing the application of the voltage such that the actuating element remains in the second physical state.

A method for controlling flow of fluid in a system including a valve having a body having a base portion and wall portions, an aperture defined in the base portion for ingress and egress of the fluid, a blocking element having a substantially s-shaped configuration and a plurality of actuating elements positioned thereon, the actuating element comprising a material capable of bending as a function of applied voltage, and electrodes positioned on each actuating element, the method comprising steps of:

• selectively actuating a first actuating element by applying the voltage thereto to generate a first bending moment in the actuating element to place the actuating element;
• and,
• concurrently actuating a second actuating element by applying the voltage thereto to generate a second bending moment in the second actuating element such that the first and second bending moments are of opposite sense to alter the configuration of the blocking element.