M3C principle

The M3C concept consists not in inserting active elements (piezoelectric, shape memory, magnetostrictive, etc.) into the composite structure, but in transforming the entire structure into an active structure .

This is achieved by combining a temperature rise with the material's anisotropy property (figure 2 ). For example, if the laminate layers have different thermal expansion properties (α ) and/or if a temperature gradient is applied, the differential elongation of the layers causes internal stresses. These are homogeneous within the structure...