Pyrotechnic triggering of thermally activated shape memory materials for selectively changing a structural and/or mechanical property of a vehicle member

A method for selectively changing a structural or mechanical property of a vehicle member, the method comprising:

• disposing a shape memory material in operative communication with the vehicle member;
• discharging a pyrotechnic material to produce heat in response to an event detected by or inferred from at least one sensor;
• and
• directing the heat at the shape memory material, wherein the heat is effective to thermally activate the shape memory material and change at least one attribute thereof, wherein the change in the at least one attribute to the shape memory material changes the structural or mechanical property of the vehicle member.

A displacement device, comprising:

• a vessel comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls extending therefrom;
• a piston assembly comprising a piston head slidably engaged with the vessel sidewalls and a shaft extending from the piston head, wherein the shaft is in operative communication with a displaceable vehicle component and the piston head defines a first chamber and a second chamber, the piston head comprising at least one fluid passageway extending between the first and second chambers;
• a shape memory material in operative communication with the piston assembly;
• and
• a pyrotechnic material disposed in the second chamber, wherein the pyrotechnic material produces an exotherm in thermal communication with the shape memory material, wherein the exotherm is effective to heat the shape memory material and change at least one attribute thereto, wherein the change in the at least one attribute resets a position of the piston head.