Session: 02-02: Shape Memory Alloy Actuator Material and Characterization Standards

Paper Number: 110624

110624 - Shape Memory Materials Analysis and Research Tool (Sm2art) Database: Comparing Legacy Data to New Experimental and Computational Data 

The Shape Memory Materials Analysis and Research Tool (SM²ART) database, formerly known as Shape Memory Materials Database (SMMD), is a web-based platform that provides unrestricted access to data from thousands of peer-reviewed articles and published datasets. Over the years, the bulk of the work focused on the building blocks of data curation, data visualization and data analysis based on legacy experimental works. This large data repository enables users to gain insights into material properties pertinent to shape memory alloys (SMAs), superelastic alloys, shape memory magnetic alloys, shape memory polymers (SMPs), and shape memory ceramics (SMCs). Insights such as effects of alloying elements, heat treatments, and processing methods can assist users in decision making and facilitate identification of patterns and trends for material designs or device operations. Additionally, all data points have full traceability to the original source to verify findings and create a link to researchers and scientists within the community.

The SM²ART database is currently available to the world via a web-based user interface with numerous features such as data selection, plotting, analyses, and more, with new features underway. This next stage of development is focused on data exchange for experimentalists and theorists alike. The new features include a session-based data upload, where users can upload and instantly examine an unlimited amount of new virtual data acquired via computational means, or via new experimentation. Scientists can upload and verify the validity of their theories and numerical computations against other theories or experimental data using this feature. All data used during this exploration session only exists within a session for the data owner, i.e., data is not saved or stored anywhere. The second feature expands on this capability and allows users to permanently upload new data and metadata to the database for inclusion in the online platform. Such data is screened for accuracy and other requirements, and then binned in the appropriate materials category and sub-groups, continuing to build upon the ever-growing shape memory materials data already surpassing 1.5 million data entries. This presentation details this recent work and highlights key aspects of the tool and feature functionalities.    

Presenting Author: Othmane Benafan NASA Glenn Research Center

Presenting Author Biography: Othmane Benafan has worked at the NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) since 2011. He has been a materials research engineer in the High Temperature and Smart Alloys Branch, leading the development of shape memory alloy technology. His investigations have included theoretical and experimental research with a focus on fit-for-purpose shape memory alloy synthesis and processing. His has studied experimental mechanics of solid-state phase transformations to construct process-structure-property roadmaps for these alloys. Dr. Benafan is currently leading multiple teams to design lightweight actuators and morphing structures as part of the ARMD Transformative Tools and Technologies project, the STMD Game Changing Development program, and several space act agreements (SAAs) with industry partners. His most recent efforts focus on the development of passive phase transforming alloys for aircraft vortex generators and digital transformation of alloy design via the creation of a database system and analytics platform.
Dr. Benafan has published over 68 peer-reviewed journal articles, 25 conference proceedings, and currently holds 5 issued patents. Dr. Benafan is active in the technical community serving numerous roles including graduate faculty doctoral advisory committees, editorial board member of the Shape Memory and Superelasticity journal, and ASM’s content and data products council. He is the President of the International Organization on Shape Memory and Superelastic Technologies (SMST), and the past executive chairman of the joint industry-government-academia Consortium for the Advancement of Shape Memory Alloy Research and Technology (CASMART). Dr. Benafan has received numerous awards during his career including the NASA Abe Silverstein Medal, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), and the R&D100 Award. Dr. Benafan has a bachelor of science, a master of science and a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Central Florida.