Variable area nozzle for gas turbine engines driven by shape memory alloy actuators

A gas turbine engine situated about a center axis and enclosed in a nacelle, said gas turbine engine having a variable area nozzle, said gas turbine engine comprising:

• a plurality of flaps each of said flaps having a flap body having a flap tip defining a diameter of said variable area nozzle, said plurality of flaps having an open position corresponding to an enlarged diameter of said variable area nozzle and a closed position corresponding to a reduced diameter of said variable area nozzle;
• a plurality of actuating mechanisms for driving said plurality of flaps into said open position and said closed position;
• a primary SMA actuator for driving said plurality of actuating mechanisms, said primary SMA actuator being alternatingly deformed in its martensitic state and heated to its austenitic state to actuate said actuating mechanism;
• and
• a secondary SMA actuator for deforming said primary SMA actuator to drive said plurality of flaps into said open position and said closed position.