Soft fabric muscle based on thin diameter SMA springs

Abstract

Abstract This study proposes fabric muscles based on shape memory alloy (SMA) springs coiled with a thin diameter SMA wire of 80 μ m to improve heat dissipation under natural convection and forced air cooling. A new structure and its fabrication process are developed to create soft and flexible fabric muscles capable of supplying current and withstanding high external force, using a large number of thin SMA spring bundles. A total of 250 bundles of SMA springs weighing only 3.2 g constitute the fabric muscle that can lift a 1500 times-heavier mass, where each strand behaved like a muscle fiber. The fabric muscle generates a blocking force of up to 56.54 N and a power density of 2072 W kg−1. In addition, an air-cooling structure similar to a showerhead is proposed to further improve the actuation speed of the fabric muscles and maintain the flexibility of the fabric muscles. The fabric muscle with forced air cooling is cooled 40.5% faster than that with natural cooling. Finally, the results confirm that forced cooling can drive the muscle with a cycle of 5.5 s.