Achievement

This year Karaman’s group demonstrated new energy-harvesting concepts based on magnetic shape memory alloys (SMAs). This may improve energy efficiency for vehicles and consumer devices by capturing excess mechanical energy for reuse. Our collaborative research efforts in new SMA alloys and devices have relied on mathematical modeling strongly coupled to the experimental efforts, the theme of our IGERT program. IGERT trainee Yegin oversaw the commissioning of a new magnetometer for these measurements, while co-PI Cagin is working with this group to develop ab-initio and multi-scale process models to guide fabrication of these materials (several publications; trainee Williams involved in this collaboration). CoPI Lagoudas has also continued to work closely with Karaman in developing multiscale modeling techniques for SMA materials, with several new funded projects this year including an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center project in SMA applications to Smart Vehicles.