M3C principle
M3C, composite material with controlled behavior

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 and cause it to...