Nitinol, any use in F1?

[BlackSwan]

It´s in the quote right below the balloon image,

Ups I missed It I'm sorry

[Pup]

If you can do that with water, could you do it with air as well?
Could it be used to inhibit airflow from detaching from the bodywork in sharp angles?

I like this question, very much.

[SectorOne]

I don´t know if there´s sarcasm there or not because i don´t know a thing about the subject

Ups I missed It I'm sorry

No worries, i do that alot, trying to find something on my desk and just can´t find it, then realize it´s one of the objects closest to me.

[zenji]

Thanks for the heads up on that. (on topic)

[Yellowbelly]

Structural rigidity is a big problem to tackle, with carbon mainly used on the vehicles.

However, F1 is an entertainment media. With so many regulations, limiting and compromising technological advances, its hard to see cool things come to light. I'm quite aware of nitinol, and it can be applied in many areas, the main problems are engineering this to cope with the stresses and its costly.

[riff_raff]

I don't know of any Nitinol actuators used on F1 aero devices, but there is actually a Nitinol actuator being used on an aero device on a 2014 production sports car. The 2014 Corvette will have a Nitinol actuator that opens an air vent when the rear hatch is closed to relieve cabin air pressure build-up. Don't know if that really counts as an "active aero device" though.

http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/11811

[tok-tokkie]

I am puzzled by that spring reforming after being messed up. It started as a straight piece of wire which was then formed into a spring which was then messed up. When the heat was applied why did it not revert to a straight piece of wire? How do they set the default shape?

[SectorOne]

I am puzzled by that spring reforming after being messed up. It started as a straight piece of wire which was then formed into a spring which was then messed up. When the heat was applied why did it not revert to a straight piece of wire? How do they set the default shape?

To fix the original "parent shape", the alloy must be held in position and heated to about 500 °C.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickel_titanium

Very confusing material this Maybe you can make springs out of it.
Have an air hatch that blows cold air over them during the race, then during pit stop, close the hatch, let temps build up and the springs will deform and lower the car.