Adaptive planar structures

Abstract

Panes and shells as only in-plane loaded structural elements play an important role in lightweight structures. However their great bearing capacity will be reduced significantly when their homogeneous stress distribution is disturbed. These disturbances can be caused for example by cuttings or constraints. Present research to reduce the disturbances by form optimization of the cuttings or by adding local bracing elements can only respond to particular loading conditions. Adaptive structures are a new innovative alternative for the optimization of panes and shells. With the use of sensors, control units and actuators they can register different external stimuli and adapt to them. This allows an optimal reaction to different loading conditions and so a reduction of the disturbances in the homogenous stress distribution.