Superelastic alloy structural geometry for ultrahigh mechanical damping
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsChristopher A. Schuh, Jose M. San Juan, Ying Chen
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Abstract
A mechanical structure is provided with a crystalline superelastic alloy that is characterized by an average grain size and that exhibits a martensitic phase transformation resulting from a mechanical stress input greater than a characteristic first critical stress. A configuration of the superelastic alloy is provided with a geometric structural feature of the alloy that has an extent that is no greater than about 200 micrometers and that is no larger than the average grain size of the alloy. This geometric feature undergoes the martensitic transformation without intergranular fracture of the geometric feature.
Claims45
A mechanical structure comprising:
- a crystalline superelastic alloy characterized by an average grain size and exhibiting a martensitic phase transformation resulting from a mechanical stress input greater than a characteristic first critical stress;
- and
- a martensitic-phase configuration of the superelastic alloy, including a geometric structural feature of the alloy having an extent that is no greater than about 200 micrometers and that is no larger than the average grain size of the alloy, with martensitic domains of the martensitic-phase configuration extending completely across the geometric structural feature extent, the geometric feature undergoing the martensitic phase transformation without intergranular fracture of the geometric feature.
A mechanical damping system comprising:
- a mechanical support through which mechanical stress is input;
- a mechanical system;
- and
- a mechanical connection between the mechanical system and the mechanical support provided by at least one crystalline superelastic alloy structure having an average grain size and exhibiting a martensitic phase transformation resulting from a mechanical stress input greater than a characteristic first critical stress, a martensitic-phase configuration of the superelastic alloy structure providing a geometric structural feature of the alloy including a structural feature having an extent that is no greater than about 200 micrometers and that is no larger than the average grain size, with martensitic domains of the martensitic-phase configuration extending completely across the geometric structural feature extent, the geometric feature undergoing the martensitic phase transformation without intergranular fracture of the geometric feature.
A mechanical damping system comprising:
- a mechanical housing having an input end through which mechanical stress is input;
- a mechanical support;
- and
- a mechanical connection between the housing and the support provided by at least one crystalline superelastic alloy structure having an average grain size and exhibiting a martensitic phase transformation resulting from a mechanical stress input greater than a characteristic first critical stress, a martensitic-phase configuration of the superelastic alloy structure providing a geometric structural feature of the alloy including a structural feature having an extent that is no greater than about 200 micrometers and that is no larger than the average grain size of the alloy, with martensitic domains of the martensitic-phase configuration extending completely across the geometric structural feature extent, the geometric feature undergoing the martensitic phase transformation without intergranular fracture of the geometric feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.