Nitinol is a new type of smart material, which can restore its original shape at a specific temperature. Generally speaking, this characteristic occurs in a high temperature environment. Its superelastic effect, high resistance characteristics, elastic modulus variability at different temperatures and self-recovery function are not available in general metal materials. With the continuous innovation of science and technology, the status of this type of alloy in the field of materials is also rising, and the efforts of scientific researchers have made the development of shape memory alloys more realistic.
Nitinol wire mesh superelastic tire
NASA Glenn Research Center has been using nitinol wire in space technology since the 1980s, including on NASA’s Pathfinder Mars rover. In most cases, they are used for one-time antenna or cargo deployment, nail pullers, or other disposable equipment. Aerospace standards are much more stringent, and equipment must perform millions of cycles.
The NASA Glenn SMA team has developed a non-pneumatic tire. The nitinol wire superelastic tire was developed for future lunar and Mars missions, but it is a viable alternative to current pneumatic tires on Earth. The technology was inspired by the Apollo lunar tires, using high-strain nitinol alloys as load-bearing components instead of typical elastic materials, which results in a tire that can withstand excessive deformation without permanent damage.
Nitinol wire superelastic tire
Using nitinol as radial reinforcement elements can also increase the load-bearing capacity of tires. Nitinol superelastic tires provide the same or higher traction as traditional pneumatic tires, eliminating punctures or “under-inflation” situations, thereby improving the fuel efficiency and safety of the vehicle. In addition, the tire design does not require an inner frame, which simplifies and reduces the weight of the tire/wheel assembly.