Smart Materials And Structures Experiments For Undergraduate Students

Smart materials and structures are a new rapidly growing interdisciplinary technology which embraces the fields of materials and structures, sensors and actuators, information processing, and control. To ensure the progress and success of smart materials and structures technology, engineering and technology educators need to make strong efforts to educate the students. At Jackson State University (JSU), two lab modules (Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators, and Photostrictive Actuators) have been added to several existing courses that have helped undergraduate students develop hands-on experience as well as strengthen students’ foundation in smart materials and structures technology. In performing the laboratory assignments, students use the instruments and follow the procedures outlined by the instructors. These two lab modules allow students to gain insight into the smart structures as well as to become knowledgeable users of the equipment. Responses and feedback from students have been very positive.