A reversible joint includes male and female components. The male component has a rigid stud with a shaft region and a head region having a greater width, than the shaft region. The female component includes a polymer-based bushing including a polymer sleeve and an embedded heating element. The polymer sleeve is formed from a shape memory polymer (SMP) or an SMP composite and includes a central channel. The polymer-based bushing is capable of being activated by heating with the embedded heating element to reversibly render the polymer sleeve elastic and allow deformation of the central channel to an expanded channel width during insertion of the head region. The polymer sleeve becomes rigid after deactivation of the polymer-based bushing for retention of the male component. Load bearing assemblies formed by connecting modular structures with the reversible joint are also provided along with installation tools for the same.

A microfluidic device, including a substrate including a microchannel, an activation setup disposed in the microchannel, and a matrix array of controllable shape-changing micropillars connected to the activation setup. A shape of the controllable shape-changing micropillars changes based on an activation of the activation setup.

A multi-axis payload isolation device for isolating a payload from outside motions. The multi-axis payload isolation device includes a payload mount base, a housing, and a flexure. The payload mount base is configured to support a payload. The housing includes an interior cavity for receiving and supporting the payload mount base. The flexure includes a plurality of radial supports and a common hub. The plurality of radial supports attach the payload mount base to the housing and are made of a superelastic shape-memory alloy. The common hub is configured to connect each of the plurality of radial supports to the payload mount base.

Provided are assemblies having composite structures interlocked with shape memory alloy structures and methods of fabricating such assemblies. Interlocking may involve inserting an interlocking protrusion of a shape memory alloy structure into an interlocking opening of a composite structure and heating at least this protrusion of the shape memory alloy structure to activate the alloy and change the shape of the protrusion. This shape change engages the protrusion in the opening such that the protrusion cannot be removed from the opening. The shape memory alloy structure may be specifically trained prior to forming an assembly using a combination of thermal cycling and deformation to achieve specific pre-activation and post-activation shapes. The pre-activation shape allows inserting the interlocking protrusion into the opening, while the post-activation shape engages the interlocking protrusion within the opening. As such, activation of the shape memory alloy interlocks the two structures.

Provided are assemblies having composite structures interlocked with shape memory alloy structures and methods of fabricating such assemblies. Interlocking may involve inserting an interlocking protrusion of a shape memory alloy structure into an interlocking opening of a composite structure and heating at least this protrusion of the shape memory alloy structure to activate the alloy and change the shape of the protrusion. This shape change engages the protrusion in the opening such that the protrusion cannot be removed from the opening. The shape memory alloy structure may be specifically trained prior to forming an assembly using a combination of thermal cycling and deformation to achieve specific pre-activation and post-activation shapes. The pre-activation shape allows inserting the interlocking protrusion into the opening, while the post-activation shape engages the interlocking protrusion within the opening. As such, activation of the shape memory alloy interlocks the two structures.

Various shape memory polymer (SMP) devices are disclosed. Many of these SMP devices can be used as attachment and/or release mechanisms for any number of different applications. These SMP devices can use various characteristics of the SMP material to allow for various shape changes. These shape changes, in some embodiments, can be used to provide for release and/or attachment devices, for example, SMP bolts, SMP screws, SMP collars, SMP pillars, SMP panels, and/or SMP rivets, to name a few. An SMP device can include a first geometric state and a second geometric shape. The first geometric shape can restrict motion of two distinct objects relative to one another and the second geometrical shape can allow motion of two distinct objects relative to one another.

A device which is attachable to a fastener stack, the device comprising: an attachment element made of shape memory material; and a cap comprising a base having an aperture and a shell having an interior space in fluid communication with the opening, wherein the base supports the shell and is coupled to the attachment element.

A smart material actuated fastener is provided. In another aspect, a fastener includes a shape memory material and a non-shape memory material with the shape memory material being a minority of the total fastener materials. A further aspect provides a fastener having workpiece-engaging surfaces made of an inactive and non-shape memory material.

A smart material actuated fastener is provided. In another aspect, a fastener includes a shape memory material and a non-shape memory material with the shape memory material being a minority of the total fastener materials. A further aspect provides a fastener having workpiece-engaging surfaces made of an inactive and non-shape memory material.

A smart material actuated fastener is provided. In another aspect, a fastener includes a shape memory material and a non-shape memory material with the shape memory material being a minority of the total fastener materials. A further aspect provides a fastener having workpiece-engaging surfaces made of an inactive and non-shape memory material.