Smart Materials - Theory and Applications

Smart materials are a class of materials characterized by having a different behavior due to external stimulation, which can be mechanic, thermal, electric, or magnetic. This chapter approaches the different types of smart materials and their classification according to the material’s nature (fluid, ceramic, polymeric and metallic). Emphasis is given to the theoretical study of the metallic materials with shape memory, presenting the fundamentals, crystallographic study and the mathematical methods of phase transformation. Due to these metallic material’s unique features, shape memory effect and super elasticity, the usage in the production of composite structures has gained space. Such materials present several advantages if compared to traditional composites being subject of research for several industrial applications