ARW Concept - Smart materials

[AndySeiji]

Well, this is probably just a crazy concept, but taken to extreme it could bring some "academic technology" to F1.
Have you ever head of Shape Memory Alloys? They are metal alloys with the interesting characteristic of changing its mechanical properties when subjected to some thermal procedure. My master's degree study is on the control of actuators based in this materials, and while doing my research I found some interesting studies, for example
this:
http://www.smaterial.com/SMA/wing/wing.html

and this:
http://www.smaterial.com/SMA/winglet/winglet.html

The advantages of this material are its extremely high power density, but as a disadvantage it brings a low energy efficiency, as it is heat activated. I believe F1 current regulations would not allow the use of such devices in the general bodywork, but would this suit, for example, a ARW? Could this bring any advantage (beyond power density) on the current system teams are testing?

[Caito]

I think they could work well with brake cooling.

Do some sort of inlet which enlarges with heat and makes the hole smaller when cooler.

So the brakes would have cooling only when they're hot

[PlatinumZealot]

How much specific power is required?

[myurr]

I think they could work well with brake cooling.

Do some sort of inlet which enlarges with heat and makes the hole smaller when cooler.

So the brakes would have cooling only when they're hot

This would, unfortunately, be illegal. Moveable aero an' all.

[riff_raff]

How about an aero surface that changes texture? For example, an airfoil surface with a strip of small "bumps" that can be electrically activated to cause the bump material to swell up and alter the boundary layer flow. Thus changing the lift/drag characteristics of the airfoil.

Not really a movable aero device. Just one that varies its surface texture. Totally legal, right?

[netoperek]

Riff Raff, that can be done under heavy load, even with AFC patches sticked to the surface, not mentioning stronger LaRC or commercial MFCs. Only problem is, it operates in -500 to 1500 Volts
These however are different type of smart materials, than mentioned by AndySeiji.

[AndySeiji]

How much specific power is required?

In my project I use a SMA wire with a diameter of 0.203 mm and one meter length, that can produce around 0,57 kgf of strength, contracting about 4.5% (4.5 cm) in one second (according to a manufacturer). This means the output power would be around 0,26 W. This consumes about 12,7 W of electric power (I use current to heat it up through joule effect). The efficiency would be around 2%. As I said, it is very low. Many variables could also affect this result, as a higher current input can make the actuation a lot faster. But I believe that in F1 application this energy could come not from electric power, but routed from high temperature gases that are usually expelled.