Bradley T. Holschuh

Low Spring Index NiTi Coil Actuators for Use in Active Compression Garments

This paper describes the modeling, development, and testing of low spring index nickel titanium (NiTi) coil actuators designed for use in wearable compression garments, and presents a prototype tourniquet system using these actuators. NiTi coil actuators produce both large forces (>1 N) and large recoverable displacements (>100% length) that are well suited for compression garment design. Thermomechanical coil models are presented that describe temperature and force as a function of nondimensionalized coil geometry, extensional strain, and applied voltage. These models suggest that low spring index coils maximize activation force, and an analytical model is presented to predict garment counter-pressure based on actuator architecture. Several low spring index (C= 3.08) coils were manufactured, annealed, and tested to assess their detwinning and activation characteristics. Results suggest both annealing and applied stress affect activation thresholds. Actuator force increases both with extensional strain and applied voltage up to 7.24 N. A first-generation compression tourniquet system using integrated actuators with direct voltage control of applied pressure is presented, demonstrating >70% increase in applied pressure during activation. This approach enables new, dynamic garments with controllable activation and low effort donning and doffing, with applications ranging from healthcare solutions to advanced space suit design.

Materials and Textile Architecture Analyses for Mechanical Counter-Pressure Space Suits using Active Materials

United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (OCT Space Technology Research Fellowship Grant NNX11AM62H)

Two-spring model for active compression textiles with integrated NiTi coil actuators

This paper describes the development and implementation of a two-spring model to predict the performance of hybrid compression textiles combining passive elastic fabrics and integrated NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) coil actuators. An analytic model that treats passive fabric-SMA coil systems as conjoined linear springs is presented to predict garment passive and active counter-pressure as a function of 11 design variables. For a fixed SMA coil design (encompassing five design variables), the model predicts that passive fabric material modulus, initial length, width and thickness determine both passive counter-pressure magnitude and activation stroke length, and that passive and active pressures are highly dependent on the relative unstretched lengths of the conjoined SMA-fabric system compared to the total limb circumference. Several passive fabrics were tested to determine their moduli and to generally assess the fabric linearity model assumption: two fabrics (spandex and neoprene) were found to behave linearly up to 200% strain, while two other fabrics (flat polyester elastic and a tri-laminate Lycra) were found to be nonlinear in the same strain envelope. Five hypothetical compression tourniquet designs are presented using experimentally determined fabric characteristics and previously studied SMA actuators developed at MIT. The performance of each tourniquet design is discussed with a specific focus on mechanical counter-pressure (MCP) space suit design requirements, with designs presented that achieve the full MCP design specification ( 29.6 kPa) while minimizing ( 5 mm) garment thickness. The modeling framework developed in this effort enables compression garment designers to tailor counter-pressure and activation stroke properties of active compression garments based on a variety of design parameters to meet a wide range of performance specifications.

Morphing Compression Garments for Space Medicine and Extravehicular Activity Using Active Materials.

INTRODUCTION Compression garments tend to be difficult to don/doff, due to their intentional function of squeezing the wearer. This is especially true for compression garments used for space medicine and for extravehicular activity (EVA). We present an innovative solution to this problem by integrating shape changing materials-NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) coil actuators formed into modular, 3D-printed cartridges-into compression garments to produce garments capable of constricting on command. METHODS A parameterized, 2-spring analytic counterpressure model based on 12 garment and material inputs was developed to inform garment design. A methodology was developed for producing novel SMA cartridge systems to enable active compression garment construction. Five active compression sleeve prototypes were manufactured and tested: each sleeve was placed on a rigid cylindrical object and counterpressure was measured as a function of spatial location and time before, during, and after the application of a step voltage input. RESULTS Controllable active counterpressures were measured up to 34.3 kPa, exceeding the requirement for EVA life support (29.6 kPa). Prototypes which incorporated fabrics with linear properties closely matched analytic model predictions (4.1%/-10.5% error in passive/active pressure predictions); prototypes using nonlinear fabrics did not match model predictions (errors >100%). Pressure non-uniformities were observed due to friction and the rigid SMA cartridge structure. DISCUSSION To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of controllable compression technology incorporating active materials, a novel contribution to the field of compression garment design. This technology could lead to easy-to-don compression garments with widespread space and terrestrial applications.

Robotic Joint Torque Testing: A Critical Tool in the Development of Pressure Suit Mobility Elements

Pressure suits allow pilots and astronauts to survive in extreme environments at the edge of Earth’s atmosphere and in the vacuum of space. One obstacle that pilots and astronauts face is that gas-pressurized suits stiffen when pressurized and greatly limit user mobility. As a result, a critical need exists to quantify and improve the mobility characteristics of pressure suits. A historical survey and critique of pressure-suit testing methodologies is first presented, followed by the results of recent pressure suit testing conducted at the MIT Man-Vehicle Laboratory (MVL). MVL researchers, in cooperation with the David Clark Company (Worcester, MA), used an anthropometrically-realistic robotic space suit tester to quantify pressure suit mobility characteristics of the S1034 Pilot Protective Assembly (PPA), a pressure suit worn by U-2 pilots. This suit was evaluated unpressurized, at a vent pressure of 5.5 kPa (0.8 psi), and at an emergency gauge pressure of 20.7 kPa (3 psi). Joint torque data was collected for elbow flexion/extension, shoulder flexion/extension, shoulder abduction/adduction, and knee flexion/extension motions. The aim of this study was to generate a robust baseline mobility database for the S1034 PPA to serve as a point of comparison for future pressure suit designs, and to provide recommendations for future pressure garment testing.

An analysis of anthropometric geometric variability of the lower leg for the fit & function of advanced functional garments

As advanced functional apparel (e.g. wearable technology) continues to develop and permeate the consumer market, sizing and fit for the human body have become obstacles to consumer accessibility and garment functionality. This study develops sizing and design strategies for an advanced functional compression garment for the lower leg through an investigation of anthropometric geometric variability of the North American civilian population (using the CAESAR database). We extracted six lower leg measurements - ankle, calf, and knee circumferences as well as knee-to ankle, knee-to-calf, and ankle-to-calf lengths - from a sample of CAESAR three-dimensional body scans (n = 160) and ran descriptive statistics to quantify lower leg variability. We then arranged the sample population separately using six different grouping variables - body mass index (BMI), height, weight, knee-to-ankle length, ankle circumference, calf circumference, and knee circumference - and conducted an analysis of variance (ANOVA) using each sorting algorithm to determine which variable(s) produced the most distinct groups (quartiles) for the anthropometric dimensions of interest (e.g., lower leg circumferences/lengths). The results conclude that sorting by BMI does not produce statistically discrete sizes; however, sorting by ankle circumference does (p < 0.05). Furthermore, length was found to be independent from circumference and vary consistently between ankle-based size groups. We conclude with sizing and design strategies for future development of advanced functional garments to aid in the transition from research to industry.