Method and system for elastic bearing support
A hybrid bearing support system includes a shaft extension fixedly coupled to a rotatable member at a radial inner end of the shaft extension, a radial outer end of the shaft extension fixedly coupled to a rotatable race of a bearing supporting the rotatable member, and a recoupler device formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA) material coupled in parallel with at least a portion of the shaft extension between the radial inner end and the radial outer end.
1. A shape memory alloy recoupler device comprising:
a radial inner flange comprising a circular cross-section;
a radial outer flange comprising a circular cross-section; and
a web member comprising an axial portion extending axially between said radial inner flange and said radial outer flange, said web member formed of a shape memory alloy (SMA) material.
2. The recoupler device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said radial inner flange and said radial outer flange is formed of an SMA material.
3. The recoupler device of claim 1 , wherein said web member is unitarily formed.
4. The recoupler device of claim 1 , wherein said web member comprises a single skirt extending circumferentially approximately 360°.
5. The recoupler device of claim 1 , wherein said web member comprises a plurality of spokes, each spoke of the plurality of spokes extending for a predetermined arc of a circumference of the recoupler device.
6. The recoupler device of claim 1 , wherein said radial inner flange and said radial outer flange are axisymmetric.
7. The recoupler device of claim 1 , wherein said web member comprises a crystal structure that responds to stress above a predetermined threshold by changing phase from a first phase to a second phase.
8. The recoupler device of claim 1 , wherein said recoupler device comprises a first crystalline structure having a first stiffness when subjected to a first stress, and said recoupler device comprises a second crystalline structure having a second stiffness when subjected to a second stress.
9. The recoupler device of claim 1 ,
wherein said web member comprises a plurality of spokes, and
wherein all of the plurality of spokes extend between said radial inner flange and said radial outer flange.