Tunable vehicle structural members and methods for selectively changing the mechanical properties thereto
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsVidyashankar Buravalla, Alan Browne, Nancy Johnson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Tunable structural member for a vehicle generally comprises an active material adapted to selectively undergo a change in at least one attribute in response to an activation signal. The change in the at least one attribute results in a change in the mechanical properties of the tunable structural member. Active materials generally include shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers, magnetorheological fluids and elastomers, piezoelectrics, electroactive polymers, and the like.
Claims28
A tunable vehicle structural member, comprising:
- at least one active material portion adapted to selectively undergo a change in at least one attribute in response to an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one attribute changes a mechanical and/or structural property of the vehicle structural member.
A method for selectively changing a mechanical property of a vehicle structural member, the method comprising:
- applying an activation signal to an active material, wherein the active material is in operative communication with the vehicle structural member;
- and
- causing a change in at least one attribute of the active material in response to the activation signal, wherein a mechanical and/or structural property of the vehicle structural member changes with the change in the at least one attribute of the active material.
A method for providing a predetermined buckling path for a vehicle structural member, comprising:
- applying an activation signal to at least one active material, wherein the at least one active material is in operative communication with non-active portions of the vehicle structural member;
- and
- changing at least one attribute of the active material in response to the activation signal, wherein the change in the at least one attribute defines the predetermined buckling path for the vehicle structural member.
A method for providing a point or region of crush initiation for a vehicle structural member, comprising:
- applying an activation signal to at least one active material, wherein the at least one active material is in operative communication with non-active portions of the vehicle structural member;
- and
- changing at least one attribute of the active material in response to the activation signal, wherein the change in the at least one attribute defines the point or region of crush initiation for the vehicle structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.