In the following the combined smart material system is either applied to a structural substrate like sheet metal made of steel or aluminum, or it is integrated into fiber composites such as glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GRP). The fiber composite construction method is well-suited for the purpose of assembling a smart structure, since the active components can be inserted during the production process and, thus, become an inherent part of the structure. Additionally, the specific requirements and characteristics of active materials can be accounted for by the several production options for composites such as selection of the fiber/matrix material and the layup of the structure. Hence, the smart structure is designed and manufactured as a whole with embedded smart components including its supporting infrastructure of, e.g., lead wires, electrodes and terminals for power supply.
Adaptronics can only achieve its full potential in lightweight constructions, if one succeeds in embedding the active components in the structure in such a manner that its efficiency and functionality is significantly extended without impairing the loading capacity.
The goal of our research activities is therefore to develop technologies and processes for the manufacturing of multifunctional material systems to enable the setup of reliable and reproducible smart structures that can be successfully applied in industrial production.