Design and Control of a Shape Memory Alloy-Based Idle Air Control Actuator for a Mid-Size Passenger Vehicle Application
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThis is an interesting work. However, it is necessary to consider the issue of poor long term stability of current nitinol, which indeed prevents many engineering applications of nitinol. Experimental verification is recommended for comparison.
- Nitinol shape memory alloys
Nitinol is meant for NiTi shape memory alloy. Hence, Nitinol shape memory alloy is not a proper term.
- quick response in shape structure
The meaning is unclear.
- The shape memory alloy wires have better thermomechanical properties than other formed SMAs.
To this reviewer, there is no evidence to support this.
- They are not 58 alone more used in automotive applications but are many applied in robotic systems
? Proof-reading of the whole paper by a native English speaker is needed.
- The shape memory alloy with a form of tube applied in actuators operates at high 60 temperatures…
This part requires extensive technical revision. Many what mentioned here are not with solid evidence to support them.
- Therefore, this research aims to design the SMA-based Idle Air Control (AIC) actua-100 tor for vehicle application.
Not sure, where is this therefore from?
- Idle Air Control (AIC)
IAC?
- Indeed, the actual problem with SMAs (including Nitinol) is their long term stability. So far the most successful real application of SMAs is Nitinol guide wire, which utilizes superelastic Nitinol, and appears to be the just right one. Simulation is often a good starting point, but for idle air control, its prospects for real-world applications are quite bleak.
- 1.7 mm Nitinol
For such a diameter Nitinol spring, a very high current is required for activation, and it takes very long for cooling.
For joule heating of SMA wires, refer to
Materials & Design, Volume 29, Issue 7, 2008, Pages 1432-1437
- Operating number of cycles (𝑁𝑐𝑦) 105
Pls check if this number is realistic and refer to
On the selection of shape memory alloys for actuators, (2002) Materials and Design, 23 (1) , pp. 11-19
for what the maximum recoverable strain that can be used.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageProof-reading of the whole paper by a native English speaker is needed.
Author Response
Please refer to the attached file.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe manuscript "Design and Control of a Shape Memory Alloy-Based Idle Air Control Actuator for Vehicle Application" has been reviewed.
The proposal is about an important device, based on Shape Memory Alloy technology for the reduction of engine fuel consumption by controlling the engine's idling operation.
After a deep introduction on SMAs Smart Materials and their applications, the attention is focused on the proposed IAC actuator.
The manuscript is interesting and novel, in particular for the focus on the emission reduction in internal combustion engine.
The manuscript is clear and well arranged, based on experimental results and modeling. Results are clearly presented, discussion and conclusion supported by the results.
English is acceptable.
In my opinion the manuscript can be accepted after the following editing (minor) revisions:
1) References in the list are not indicated according to the journal requirements. Please check and strictly follow author's instruction: [1] the Journal is not indicated, [10] the title and the journal are wrong, Please add doi when available. and many others.
2) The operating activation cycles are extimated in 100.000 (Tab. 2), however experiments have been conducted up to 100 cycles (line 487). How do the authors can supply this gap of knowledge? Further tests are running?
After the following minor revision the manuscript can be accepted for publication on Applied Sciences.
Author Response
Please refer to the attached file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe article entitled “Design and Control of a Shape Memory Alloy-Based Idle Air Control Actuator for Vehicle Application” has been submitted for publication in Applied Sciences.
This research introduces a novel idle air control (IAC) actuator for automotive engines, aimed at reducing fuel consumption during idling by leveraging shape memory alloy (SMA) technology. The actuator, comprising an SMA spring and an antagonistic steel spring, utilizes the thermal activation properties of SMAs to achieve precise and rapid control of the engine’s air intake. Designed using numerical and analytical methods, the SMA spring is electrically activated to open, with a PID controller minimizing actuation time. Performance assessments through mathematical modeling and integration into the engine's air intake system demonstrate the actuator's effectiveness in enhancing idle conditions by quickly regulating air intake.
1) The author should present a comparative analysis of the performance of the SMA spring and the antagonistic steel spring to substantiate the efficiency improvements resulting from the material change.
2) In the results section, the author should describe the interrelation of factors that influence the actuator's lifespan.
3) The author should elucidate the differential reliability performance between the antagonistic steel spring and the SMA spring composed of nitinol.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageThe English writing and descriptions need improvement.
Author Response
Please refer to the attached file.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
Comments and Suggestions for AuthorsThe quality of paper has been improved.
It can be accepted for a publication.
Comments on the Quality of English LanguageThe quality of English language is good.
