Methods and tools for forming contoured composite structures with shape memory alloy

摘要

Methods and tools (100) for forming contoured composite structures (12) are disclosed. Methods include positioning a sheet of composite material (102) relative to a structure of shape memory alloy (104), heating the structure of shape memory alloy (104) to deform the structure of shape memory alloy (104) to a deformed conformation (108) and thereby conform the sheet of composite material (102) to a desired contour (110) corresponding to the deformed conformation (108) of the structure of shape memory alloy (104). Tools (100) include a structure of shape memory alloy (104) and a heat source (114) for heating the structure of shape memory alloy (104) to conform a sheet of composite material (102) to a desired contour (110) corresponding to the deformed conformation (108) of the structure of shape memory alloy (104).