ABSTRACT
A new age of materials with smart functionality is emerging [1, 2]. Advanced material systems with embedded sensors and/or actuators are attracting worldwide interest because of new potential uses: damage detection, performance monitoring, noise reduction, vibration suppression, actuation, self repair and fabrication process monitoring. Most attempts to realize these new material systems have been by embedding sensor and/or actuator materials in host structural materials such as polymer matrix composites [3-6]. These new material systems will be able to replace or simplify complicated mechanical systems. For example, active material systems will remove heavy actuators, be free from joints and tribological problems, and so on. If a structural material which is active as well as light and strong is realized, it will be applied to many active parts such as hatches, doors, flaps, air brakes without hinges and actuators.
