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Message no. 1
From: Matthew Waddilove <m_waddilove@*******.COM>
Subject: Smart Materials
Date: Tue, 17 Mar 1998 02:09:51 PST
I just saw this article on wired news and thought that people might be
interested.
http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/10895.html

- Matthew Waddilove

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Message no. 2
From: "D. Ghost" <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Smart Materials
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 16:20:02 -0500
What are the properities of Smart Materials? I don't mean the game stats
... I know those ... I mean what does putting Smart Materials on vehicle
MEAN?

Ie, do smart materials bend and flex where normal materials don't
(normally)?

Would smart materials allow you to build mechanical limbs with no visble
joints?

What would the effect on the actual appearance of the vehicle be? How do
the Smart Materials impact the way the vehicle functions?

--
D. Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, RuPixel)
"Long hair eliminates the need for barbers" -- Einstein

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Message no. 3
From: Starjammer <starjammer@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 19:15:57 -0400
At 04:20 PM 10-10-98 -0500, you wrote:
>What are the properities of Smart Materials? I don't mean the game stats
>... I know those ... I mean what does putting Smart Materials on vehicle
>MEAN?
>
>Ie, do smart materials bend and flex where normal materials don't
>(normally)?

It's not the where so much as the when. The idea behind a smart material
is that it could (for example) be very rigid under stress, but flex
controllably when a current is applied to it (more current=more flex). So
you can get the best of both worlds, strength and flexibility.

>Would smart materials allow you to build mechanical limbs with no visble
>joints?

Theoretically, yes, though there would be practical limits.

>What would the effect on the actual appearance of the vehicle be? How do
>the Smart Materials impact the way the vehicle functions?

Appearance probably wouldn't change, since this would be mostly slight
changes to the infrastructure. As for function, the frame or chassis of
your vehicle could be made to slighly change its shape so as to better
handle the stress of extreme maneuvering, which would improve performance.
When you did a bootlegger turn, for example, it'd be like driving a car
whose frame was made specifically to do bootlegger turns. Straighten out,
and the frame would return to its optimum shape for driving in a straight
line.

>--
>D. Ghost


Starjammer | Una salus victus nullam sperare salutem.
starjammer@**********.com | "The one hope of the doomed is not to hope
Marietta, GA | for safety." --Virgil, The Aeneid
Message no. 4
From: "D. Ghost" <dghost@****.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 21:01:04 -0500
On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 19:15:57 -0400 Starjammer <starjammer@**********.COM>
writes:
>At 04:20 PM 10-10-98 -0500, you wrote:
<SNIP>
>>Would smart materials allow you to build mechanical limbs with no
visble
>>joints?

>Theoretically, yes, though there would be practical limits.

Such as?

>>What would the effect on the actual appearance of the vehicle be? How
do
>>the Smart Materials impact the way the vehicle functions?

>Appearance probably wouldn't change, since this would be mostly slight
>changes to the infrastructure. As for function, the frame or chassis of
>your vehicle could be made to slighly change its shape so as to better
>handle the stress of extreme maneuvering, which would improve
performance.
>When you did a bootlegger turn, for example, it'd be like driving a car
>whose frame was made specifically to do bootlegger turns. Straighten
out,
>and the frame would return to its optimum shape for driving in a
straight
>line.

"Better handle the stress"? But using Smart Materials gives you a +1
PENALTY to stress tests ... I agree with you that being able to "bend
instead break" should give you a bonus ... perhaps it was an error?

--
D. Ghost
(aka Pixel, Tantrum, RuPixel)
"Coffee without caffeine is like sex without the spanking." -- Cupid

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Message no. 5
From: Starjammer <starjammer@**********.COM>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 00:04:13 -0400
At 09:01 PM 10-10-98 -0500, you wrote:
>On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 19:15:57 -0400 Starjammer <starjammer@**********.COM>
>writes:
>>At 04:20 PM 10-10-98 -0500, you wrote:
><SNIP>

>>>Would smart materials allow you to build mechanical limbs with no visble
>>>joints?
>
>>Theoretically, yes, though there would be practical limits.
>
>Such as?

You wouldn't get the same range of motion as with a mechanical joint, the
thickness of the material would limit how much it could flex, it would be
harder to maintain and would probably wear out sooner under constant usage.
Eventually, the material would become less responsive as it wore out.

>>Appearance probably wouldn't change, since this would be mostly slight
>>changes to the infrastructure. As for function, the frame or chassis of
>>your vehicle could be made to slighly change its shape so as to better
>>handle the stress of extreme maneuvering, which would improve performance.
>>When you did a bootlegger turn, for example, it'd be like driving a car
>>whose frame was made specifically to do bootlegger turns. Straighten out,
>>and the frame would return to its optimum shape for driving in a straight
>>line.
>
>"Better handle the stress"? But using Smart Materials gives you a +1
>PENALTY to stress tests ... I agree with you that being able to "bend
>instead break" should give you a bonus ... perhaps it was an error?

No, the rules are right. I was just thinking in different terms. Think of
it like this: When engaging in a high-G maneuver, like a sharp turn, a
rigid frame causes you to lose some handling because it can't adapt to the
forces acting on the vehicle. Smart materials can. The frame will
actually change shape so as to handle the forces better.

The problem with smart materials is that they wear out more quickly,
because they do change shape, and because the chemical bonds that allow the
material to respond to the current break down over time. So they require
more upkeep, and violent maneuvering (and therefore more usage of the smart
materials) hasten this.

>--
>D. Ghost


Starjammer | Una salus victus nullam sperare salutem.
starjammer@**********.com | "The one hope of the doomed is not to hope
Marietta, GA | for safety." --Virgil, The Aeneid
Message no. 6
From: Adam Getchell <acgetchell@*******.EDU>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials
Date: Sat, 10 Oct 1998 23:27:48 -0700
>"Better handle the stress"? But using Smart Materials gives you a +1
>PENALTY to stress tests ... I agree with you that being able to "bend
>instead break" should give you a bonus ... perhaps it was an error?

Not necessarily far-fetched. Some materials, like concrete, are prestressed
to take their design loads better. There can be occasions (e.g. Tacoma
Narrow's bridge) where the design loads end up not being where maximum
stress occurs, and so prestressing can actually do harm.

Some materials, such as composites, have higher tensile (pulling) strengths
than compression. They may even be compressionally pre-stressed, to
increase tensile strength. Thus, compression loads will be very bad for the
design.

Engineers try very hard to make their designs account for all possible
failure modes, but reality can be a bit unpredictable.

>D. Ghost

--Adam

acgetchell@*******.edu
"Invincibility is in oneself, vulnerability in the opponent." --Sun Tzu
Message no. 7
From: Mongoose <evamarie@**********.NET>
Subject: Re: Smart Materials
Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1998 11:53:35 -0700
:No, the rules are right. I was just thinking in different terms. Think
of
:it like this: When engaging in a high-G maneuver, like a sharp turn, a
:rigid frame causes you to lose some handling because it can't adapt to
the
:forces acting on the vehicle. Smart materials can. The frame will
:actually change shape so as to handle the forces better.
:

Smart materials also include, as a "free" effect, the abilty to
measure strain (they produce voltage when flexed) and actively oppose it
(by applying a reverse voltage)- the effect is similar to that used in
pre-stressed concrete, but dynamically adapatable. That would account fo
the load and accelration increase- it can handle the same loads with less
material.
Smart materials also eliminates the need for certain mechnical likages
and parts; helicopter bladeds can adjust thier own angle of attack and
such, and other aeronatic and naval parts would benifit simlarly. Ground
suspension would be "active", to put it mildly.

Mongoose

Further Reading

If you enjoyed reading about Smart Materials, you may also be interested in:

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