Other

University System of Maryland

Amr M Baz

Marino diMarzo

A method and devices are described, in which a transformable fiber at a first crystal structure is shaped from its pre-determined configuration into a new shaped configuration. The new shaped configuration of the transformable fiber is inserted into a cavity of a heat and fire protective item. The new shaped configuration of the transformable fiber is heated to above its transformation temperature to a second crystal structure. The heating transforms the new shaped configuration to its pre-determined configuration, wherein the pre-determined configuration forms an air pocket within the heat and fire protective item. The transformable fiber is cooled below its transformation temperature to revert the transformable fiber back to the new shaped configuration at the first crystal structure.

Heat and fire protective items

A new method and device for actively-controlled constrained layer (ACLD) treatment which can be used as an effective means for damping out vibrations and sounds from flexible structures are described. The ACLD treatment consists of a visco-elastic damping layer which is sandwiched between two piezo-electric layers. The three-layer composite ACLD, when bonded to a surface which is subject to vibrational and/or sound disturbances, acts as a smart constraining layer damping treatment with built-in sensing and actuation capabilities. The sensing capability is provided by the piezo-electric layer bonded to the surface of the flexible structure, whereas the actuation or control capability is generated by the other piezo-electric layer which acts as an active constraining layer.

Growing community of inventors

Rockville, MD, United States of America

Amr M Baz