Application of an SMA spring for vibration screen control

Abstract

Use of springs made of an alloy with shape memory (SMA) to shape the dynamic characteristics of a resonance vibration screen is proposed in this paper. These springs change spring constant as a result of temperature changes. Thus it is possible to change their resonance frequency in real time. In the paper a mathematical model of a controlled SMA spring was formulated and its parameters were identified. In the model both the effect of spring coefficient changes and damping changes depending upon alloy temperature and spring vibration frequency were taken into consideration. Experimental investigations of the examined spring and screen physical model were carried out and selected characteristics were also included. The investigations were carried out at the Dynamics and Control of Structures Laboratory of AGH University of Science and Technology. The control law was formulated. Simulation investigations of the mathematical vibration screen model in both open and closed loop systems were made. It was shown that the elaborated control system is robust of vibration mass changes by as much as ±30%.