STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Journal of Polymer & Composites Review Article Special issue

Innovative Applications of Smart Materials in Aviation: A Comprehensive Review

  1. Vishal Kaushik Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Priyadarshini College of Engineering, Nagpur
  2. Sanika Misal Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Priyadarshini College of Engineering, Nagpur
  3. Siddhi Atkare Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Priyadarshini College of Engineering, Nagpur
  4. Shreya Gundewar Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Priyadarshini College of Engineering, Nagpur
  5. Pooja Batani Department of Aeronautical Engineering, Priyadarshini College of Engineering, Nagpur

Abstract

Smart materials are transforming the aviation industry by offering innovative solutions that enhance performance, safety, and sustainability. The use of smart materials can enhance the efficiency, safety, and longevity of aerospace structures by sensing, responding, and adjusting to environmental changes in real time. The objective of this review is to examine how smart materials can be used in aviation, especially in the field of sensor networks, control systems, and structural components. There is an increasing number of smart materials that exhibit adaptive behaviors in response to environmental stimuli, such as shape-memory alloys, piezoelectric elements, and self-healing composites, which enables real-time structural adjustments to improve aerodynamic efficiency. A detailed analysis is conducted into the potential benefits of these technologies for reducing aircraft weight, increasing component lifespans, and supporting advanced maintenance strategies. These materials not only optimize energy efficiency but also improve thermal management and provide innovative noise and vibration control solutions. Additionally, the integration of smart materials with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and their contribution to structural health monitoring are highlighted. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the future role of smart materials in shaping next-generation aircraft, with particular attention to fuel efficiency, environmental impact, and safety enhancement. Although these advances have been made, the review acknowledges that there are still many challenges, including cost, reliability, and regulatory hurdles that need to be overcome, and stresses the necessity of further research and development in order to resolve these problems. This study concludes by underlining that smart materials hold the potential to be transformative when it comes to creating more efficient, sustainable and safer aviation technologies in the future.

Keywords

References (49)

  1. O'Dwyer C, Chen R, He JH, Lee J, Razeeb KM. Scientific and Technical Challenges in Thermal Transport and Thermoelectric Materials and Devices. ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology. 2017;6(3):N3058-N3064. doi:10.1149/2.0091703jss
  2. Sun J, Guan Q, Liu Y, Leng J. Morphing aircraft based on smart materials and structures: A state-of-the-art review. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures. 2016;27(17):2289-2312. doi:10.1177/1045389x16629569
  3. G. Parhate and K. K. Jadhao, “Smart Materials and Structures: Applications and Challenges in Mechanical Engineering,” IJFANS Int. J. Food Nutr. Sci., vol. 11, pp. 1218–1227, 2022.
  4. Sharma K, Srinivas G. Flying smart: Smart materials used in aviation industry. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2020;27:244-250. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2019.10.115
  5. H. Mat Yazik and M. T. H. Sultan, Shape memory polymer and its composites as morphing materials. Elsevier Ltd, 2018.
  6. Barbarino S, Saavedra Flores EI, Ajaj RM, Dayyani I, Friswell MI. A review on shape memory alloys with applications to morphing aircraft. Smart Materials and Structures. 2014;23(6):063001. doi:10.1088/0964-1726/23/6/063001
  7. Kaushik, A. Wandile, V. Girade, and C. Khadse, “‘2D Simulation to Study the Effect of Flaps on Various Aerofoils at Different Angles’ BT - Recent Advances in Mechanical Infrastructure,” 2022, pp. 263–273.
  8. Choubey G, Suneetha L, Pandey KM. Composite materials used in Scramjet- A Review. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2018;5(1):1321-1326. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2017.11.217
  9. TZOU HS, LEE HJ, ARNOLD SM. Smart Materials, Precision Sensors/Actuators, Smart Structures, and Structronic Systems. Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures. 2004;11(4-5):367-393. doi:10.1080/15376490490451552
  10. d’Angelo, C. Galassi, and N. Lecis, “熱電材料と応用： レビュー,” Energies, vol. 16, no. 17, p. 6409, 2023, [Online]. Available: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/17/6409.
  11. -P. Fleurial, “Design and discovery of highly efficient thermoelectric materials,” Adv. Sci. Technol. (Faenza, Italy), vol. 24, no. Innovative Materials in Advanced Energy Technologies, pp. 733–744, 1999.
  12. Bar-Cohen, “Electro-active polymers: current capabilities and challenges,” Proc. SPIE, Int. Soc. Opt. Eng. SPIE, Int. Soc. Opt. Eng., vol. 4695, pp. 1–7, 2002, [Online]. Available: http://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov/nasa-nde/lommas/eap/WW-EAP-Newsletter.html%0Ahttp://ndeaa.jpl.nasa.gov.
  13. Vavdiya J, Kaushik V. A Critical Study on Missile and Missile Guidance. Graduate Research in Engineering and Technology. 2022:37-40. doi:10.47893/gret.2022.1131
  14. Chen C, Yi Z. Photostrictive Effect: Characterization Techniques, Materials, and Applications. Advanced Functional Materials. 2021;31(22). doi:10.1002/adfm.202010706
  15. Das, C. Melchior, and K. M. Karumbaiah, Self-healing composites for aerospace applications. Elsevier Ltd, 2016.
  16. Bashir, S. Merryisha, P. Rajendran, and M. S. Z. Abidin, “Magnetostrictive smart materials review for morphing aircraft,” ARPN J. Eng. Appl. Sci., vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 668–676, 2019.
  17. Olabi AG, Grunwald A. Design and application of magnetostrictive materials. Materials & Design. 2008;29(2):469-483. doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2006.12.016
  18. Anil and A. S. S. Kaushi, Vishal, “Investigation of Supersonic Retro Propulsion Flow Fields for Central Jets and Peripheral Jets on Re-Entry Bodies,” Int. J. Sci. Res. Dev., vol. 4, no. 10, pp. 656–661, 2016.
  19. Kausar A, Ahmad I, Maaza M, Bocchetta P. Self-Healing Nanocomposites—Advancements and Aerospace Applications. Journal of Composites Science. 2023;7(4):148. doi:10.3390/jcs7040148
  20. Elahi H, Munir K, Eugeni M, Abrar M, Khan A, Arshad A, et al. A Review on Applications of Piezoelectric Materials in Aerospace Industry. Integrated Ferroelectrics. 2020;211(1):25-44. doi:10.1080/10584587.2020.1803672
  21. Shivi Kesarwani, Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Lucknow (U.P.), INDIA. Polymer Composites in Aviation Sector. International Journal of Engineering Research and. 2017;V6(06). doi:10.17577/ijertv6is060291
  22. F. Braghin, D. E. Quadrelli, and E. B. L. Aquilante, “Smart Materials Smart Materials,” no. March 2003, pp. 5–12, 2019.
  23. Yelemessova G, Gussenov I, Ayazbayeva A, Shakhvorostov A, Orazzhanova L, Klivenko A, et al. Preparation and Characterization of Preformed Polyelectrolyte and Polyampholyte Gel Particles for Plugging of High-Permeability Porous Media. Gels. 2024;10(9):562. doi:10.3390/gels10090562
  24. D. Aggarwal, A. K. Batra, P. Guggilla, and M. E. Edwards, “73-Pyroelectric Materials_NASA.pdf,” no. March, 2010.
  25. Kwon HJ, Osada Y, Gong JP. Polyelectrolyte Gels-Fundamentals and Applications. Polymer Journal. 2006;38(12):1211-1219. doi:10.1295/polymj.pj2006125
  26. Poosanaas P, Tonooka K, Uchino K. Photostrictive actuators. Mechatronics. 2000;10(4-5):467-487. doi:10.1016/s0957-4158(99)00073-2
  27. F. Hepp, S. G. Bailey, and R. P. Raffaelle, “Inorganic photovoltaic materials and devices: Past, present, and future,” Org. Photovoltaics Mech. Mater. Devices, no. August, pp. 19–36, 2017, doi:10.1201/9781420026351.
  28. Safyanu BD, Abdullah MN, Omar Z. Review of Power Device for Solar-Powered Aircraft Applications. Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management. 2019. doi:10.5028/jatm.v11.1077
  29. Mitschke U, Bäuerle P. The electroluminescence of organic materials. Journal of Materials Chemistry. 2000;10(7):1471-1507. doi:10.1039/a908713c
  30. Basheer AA. Advances in the smart materials applications in the aerospace industries. Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology. 2020;92(7):1027-1035. doi:10.1108/aeat-02-2020-0040
  31. Qiu J, Idris MK, Grau G, Melenka GW. Fabrication of electroluminescent carbon fiber composite for damage visualization. Manufacturing Letters. 2020;24:56-60. doi:10.1016/j.mfglet.2020.03.010
  32. Susner MA, Haugan TJ. A Review of the State-of-the-Art Superconductor Technology for High Power Applications. 2018 AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium. 2018. doi:10.2514/6.2018-5030
  33. Colle A, Lubin T, Leveque J. Design of a superconducting machine and its cooling system for an aeronautics application. The European Physical Journal Applied Physics. 2021;93(3):30901. doi:10.1051/epjap/2020200027
  34. H. Brown, “Attention has focused strongly on the liquid crystalline state of matter in recent years . In addition to studies directed to gaining basic information on structure and properties , applications of liquid crystals in non-destructive testing and in display,” J. Electron. Mater., vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 403–430, 1973.
  35. Srivastava A, Usha P, Al-Alawachi SFA, Kansal L, K A, Arora D. RETRACTED: Self-Healing Materials: Mechanisms, Characterization, and Applications: A detailed Review. E3S Web of Conferences. 2024;505:01019. doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202450501019
  36. Pattanaik P, Mishra AK. Review Study on Mechanical Properties of Self-Healing materials. Materials and its Characterization. 2022;1(2):114-119. doi:10.46632/mc/1/2/8
  37. Lehmijoki U, Rovenskaya E. Environmental Mortality and Long-Run Growth. Dynamic Modeling and Econometrics in Economics and Finance. 2009:239-258. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-02132-9_12
  38. Wang W, Xiang Y, Yu J, Yang L. Development and Prospect of Smart Materials and Structures for Aerospace Sensing Systems and Applications. Sensors. 2023;23(3):1545. doi:10.3390/s23031545
  39. Bashir M, Rajendran P. Recent Trends in Piezoelectric Smart Materials and Its Actuators for Morphing Aircraft Development. International Review of Mechanical Engineering (IREME). 2019;13(2):117. doi:10.15866/ireme.v13i2.15538
  40. Agrawal G. Smart Materials: Smart Think. Journal of Dental Health and Oral Research. 2023:1-4. doi:10.46889/jdhor.2023.4105
  41. Ajay Kumar JK, Srinivas G. Recent trends in Robots Smart Material and its application in Aeronautical and Aerospace Industries. Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 2019;1172:012035. doi:10.1088/1742-6596/1172/1/012035
  42. Ammar M, Haleem A, Javaid M, Bahl S, Garg SB, Shamoon A, et al. Significant applications of smart materials and Internet of Things (IoT) in the automotive industry. Materials Today: Proceedings. 2022;68:1542-1549. doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2022.07.180
  43. Ramly R, Kuntjoro W, Rahman MKA. Using Embedded Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) Sensors in Smart Aircraft Structure Materials. Procedia Engineering. 2012;41:600-606. doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2012.07.218
  44. R. Abdulridha Abdulameer Hatem Wasmi, “Vibration Control Analysis of Aircraft Wing by Using Smart Material,” Iiste, vol. 6, no. 8, pp. 7–43, 2015, [Online]. Available: www.iiste.org.
  45. Park G, Ruggiero E, Inman DJ. Dynamic testing of inflatable structures using smart materials. Smart Materials and Structures. 2002;11(1):147-155. doi:10.1088/0964-1726/11/1/317
  46. A. Missile, F. Control, S. Feasibility, V. Giurgiutiu, and R. Pomirleanu, “20001124 089,” vol. 298, no. 0704, 2000.
  47. Schoepflin D, Koch J, Gomse M, Schüppstuhl T. Smart Material Delivery Unit for the Production Supplying Logistics of Aircraft. Procedia Manufacturing. 2021;55:455-462. doi:10.1016/j.promfg.2021.10.062
  48. Jänker et al., “New Actuators for Aircraft , Space and Military Applications,” ACTUATOR 2010, 12th Int. Conf. New Actuators, no. June, pp. 346–354, 2008.
  49. Leng J, Lu H, Liu Y, Huang WM, Du S. Shape-Memory Polymers—A Class of Novel Smart Materials. MRS Bulletin. 2009;34(11):848-855. doi:10.1557/mrs2009.235
Support