Softening micromechanical constitutive model of stress induced martensite transformation for NiTi single crystal shape memory alloy

Based on the assumption of laminated microstructure, a micromechanical model of stress induced martensite transformation for NiTi shape memory alloys single crystal is proposed. Elasticity anisotropy and different proper-ties for two phases are considered. Martensite volume fraction is chosen as the internal variable that controls the phase transformation quantitatively. An effective macroscopic elasticity matrix based on the different elasticity characteristics of each phase and the martensite volume fraction are obtained with the help of the perfect interfa-cial relationships. A phase transformation driving force is derived to construct the transformation criterion. The model corresponds to a non-convexity free energy function during phase transformation, so softening behavior can be well simulated by the model. A numerical simulation is implemented for the uniaxial loading of NiTi single crystal alloy according to the model, and simulation results are proved by experimental results of polycrystal with strong {111} texture. Superelasticity, Anisotropy, the evolution of microstructure and softening behavior can be well simulated.     

Neutron-irradiation-induced shape memory effect in a TiNi alloy

The recovery of inelastic strains in Ti-Ni alloy samples irradiated in a nuclear reactor under isothermal conditions was studied. Before irradiation, the cylindrical samples were compressed to a residual strain of 3–6% in the martenstici state at room temperature. The samples were irradiated at a temperature of 45°C, which does not exceed the temperature of the onset of the reverse martensitic transformation A _S . Irradiation with a fastneutron fluence of 5 × 10²⁰ cm^?2 is established to result in the recovery of the residual strain. The value of the recoverable strain is comparable to that observed under the conditions of the shape memory effect on heating of the deformed alloy and even somewhat exceeds it. The obtained data show that neutron irradiation can induce the shape-memory effect in the TiNi alloy. This is due to a decrease in the temperatures of the martensitic transformations under irradiation.     

Modelling of martensite slip and twinning in NiTiHf shape memory alloys

High-temperature shape memory alloy NiTiHf holds considerable promise for structural applications. An important consideration for these advanced alloys is the determination of the magnitude of the twinning stress. Theoretical stresses for twinning and dislocation slip in NiTiHf martensites are determined. The slip and twinning planes are (0?0?1) and (0?1?1) for monoclinic and orthorhombic crystals, respectively. The determination of the slip and twinning stress is achieved with a proposed Peierls–Nabarro-based formulation informed with atomistic simulations. In the case of the twin, multiple dislocations comprising the twin nucleus are considered. The overall energy expression is minimized to obtain the twinning and slip stresses. The magnitude of the predicted twinning stresses is lower than slip stresses which explains why the NiTiHf alloys can undergo reversibility without plastic deformation. In fact, the predicted critical resolved shear stress levels of 433?MPa for slip and 236?MPa for twinning in the case of 12.5% Hf agree very well with the experimental measurements. The high slip resistance confirms that these materials can be very attractive in load-bearing applications.     

Damping characteristics of a spray-deposited shape memory alloy beam

The damping characteristics of an Ni–Ti shape memory alloy (SMA) beam are theoretically and experimentally studied with interest in identifying an appropriate damping model for the material. The SMA beam is manufactured by a spray deposition method followed by heat treatment and found to have nanocrystalline structure in which damping capacity is high. The beam is then tested to obtain an impulse response and the frequency response function (FRF). By using the Hilbert transform technique it is shown that damping of the beam is almost amplitude independent in the tested range of displacement. It is also shown from the FRF that the damping of the spray-deposited shape memory alloy beam is well represented by a model including both linear viscous and hysteretic dampings.     

Longitudinal transducer driven by NiMnGa magnetic shape memory alloy

In order to realize a low-frequency and small-size underwater acoustic source,an underwater acoustic transducer has been designed by using Ni Mn Ga alloy, which has the advantages of large strain, rapid response and high energy density. Based on the deformation principle of Ni Mn Ga alloy, a physical model of a Ni Mn Ga longitudinal transducer is established, and the equivalentcircuit of the transducer is derived.A multi-physics coupling model of electromagnetic, mechanical and acoustic fields is established by using the finite element method to predict the underwater acoustic performance of the transducer.A small-scale prototype of the Ni Mn Ga longitudinal transducer is fabricated and its sound source level is tested in water within the frequency range from 500 Hz to 800 Hz. Experimental results demonstrate that the Ni Mn Ga transducer with an 8 mm diameter of the radiation surface, achieves sound source level of 115.5 d B at 700 Hz.     

Magnetoresistance in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy NiMnFeGa

The magnetoresistance (MR){=[R(H)−R(0)]/R(0)} properties in ferromagnetic shape memory alloy of NiMnFeGa ribbons and single crystals, and NiFeGa ribbons have been investigated. It is found that the NiMnFeGa melt-spun ribbon exhibited GMR effect, arising from the spin-dependent scattering from magnetic inhomogeneities consisting of antiferromagnetically coupled Mn atoms in B2 structure. In the absence of these magnetic inhomogeneities, Heusler alloys seem to show a common linear MR behavior at around 0.8T_C, regardless of sample structures. This may be explained by the s-d model. At low temperatures, conventional AMR behaviors due to the spin-orbital coupling are observed. This is most likely due to the diminished MR from s-d model because of much less spin fluctuation, and is not associated with martensite phase. MR anomaly at intermediate field (ρ_⊥>ρ_||) is also observed in single crystal samples, which may be related to unique features of Heusler alloys.     

Micropositioning using shape memory alloy actuators

Shape memory alloys (SMA) can be used to generate motion or force in electromechanical devices and micro-machines, although their accuracy is severely limited by their highly nonlinear and hysteretical stimulus-response characteristics. In this work we present some results regarding a nonlinear control method suitable for SMA-based positioning applications. In particular, we show how the hysteresis effects can be compensated using an inverse hysteresis model generated by a neural network, trained using experimental data. The control strategy, experimented on a laboratory SMA actuator, uses the inverse model inserted in a proportional-integral with antiwindup control loop. It is found that neural networks successfully improve the closed-loop response, leading to position accuracies close to a micrometer.     

Mechanism of homogenization of the martensite state of crystals with a shape memory effect

The mechanism of homogenization of the martensite state of crystals with a shape memory effect under mechanical stresses applied to a crystal is theoretically analyzed in the framework of the thermodynamic approach and the theory of smeared martensite transitions. The homogenization of the martensite state of the crystal is considered for two variants of martensite that differ in all parameters (the temperature and the heat of transformation, spontaneous strains, etc.) and for many variants of martensite that differ from one another in the orientation of the habit planes.     

A strain-fiber actuator by use of shape memory alloy spring

A strain-fiber actuator by use of shape memory alloy spring is proposed and experimentally investigated. The shape memory alloy actuator with a diameter of 0.3 mm and length of 2 mm was driven by a DC power supply of 7 V to persist for 5 s. The deformation and the strain ratio were found to be 60 μm and 3%, respectively. To apply the actuator to strain a fiber Bragg grating, we obtained a tunable spectrum width of 50 nm around the wavelength of 1550 nm for optical communication.     

Nonlinear dynamics of a rotordynamic nonsmooth shape memory alloy system

This contribution deals with the analysis of a rotordynamic nonsmooth shape memory alloy (SMA) system. The rotor–bearing system is modeled as a Jeffcott rotor with two-degrees of freedom and discontinuous supports. Two different situations are investigated: linear elastic support and shape memory alloy support. Numerical simulations are carried out establishing a comparison between elastic and SMA systems, showing situations where nonlinear effects of SMAs are interesting in dynamical responses avoiding undesirable behaviors. Temperature dependence of SMA response is investigated showing adaptive aspects of this kind of system.     

演示记忆合金弹簧的形状记忆效应的实验设计

设计了测试记忆合金弹簧的形状记忆效应的物理实验.描述了实验装置的设计和结构,给出了实验内容的设计和实验方法,包括观察测试记忆合金弹簧的温度-形变记忆效应实验和电流-形变记忆效应实验.根据测量数据,描绘了用该仪器得到的温度-形变曲线和电流-形变曲线.该实验可作为设计性实验在大学物理实验课中开出.     

Pitch-variable transmission-type bulk gratings driven by shape memory alloy actuator

This paper describes a novel pitch-variable transmission-type bulk grating fabricated by silicon micromachining technology driven by a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. The grating is specially designed to change the pitch easily with a small force and assured moderate stress by finite element method. Using deep reactive ion etching (deep-RIE) technology, the grating has a high aspect ratio more than 10. In the diffraction experiment, more than 10% extension ratio has been obtained. The SMA actuator has been installed to the grating. Due to the two-way shape memory effect, the translation mechanism is simple and is easily controlled.     

A two-dimensional self-aligning system driven by shape memory alloy actuators

The two-dimensional automatic alignment system with an optical aperture is developed. The optical aperture with four integrated photodiode cells for feedback control signal is fabricated by MEMS techniques. The translation stage of the system is driven by four shape-memory-alloy positioning actuators to realize two-dimensional (XY-plane) movement.     

Development of NiMnGa-based ferromagnetic shape memory alloy by rapid solidification route

The ferromagnetic shape memory alloy with nominal composition of Ni_52.5Mn_24.5Ga₂₃(at%) was developed by the melt-spinning technique. The as-spun ribbon showed dominant L2₁ austenitic (cubic) structure with splitting of primary peak in the X-ray diffractogram indicating existence of a martensitic feature. The quenched-in martensitic plates were revealed from Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Increase of magnetisation at low-temperature rise indicates martensite to austenite transformation and its reverse with a drop in magnetisation during cooling cycle. The martensite to austenite transformation can be made spontaneous at higher magnetic field.     

Recent advances in understanding the origin of martensite aging phenomena in shape memory alloys

The martensite aging phenomena (martensite stabilization and rubber-like behavior) found in many shape memory alloys have puzzled material scientists for over 60 years without a definite answer. In this article we critically reviewed previous models to understand the aging phenomena, which include pseudotwin-type model, LRO model, SRO model, twinning dislocation model, and domain (twin) boundary pinning model. We showed that these models failed to meet generality criterion, although being able to explain the phenomena to some extent. Then we focused on a very recent general model (Ren and Otsuka, Nature, 389, 579–582, 1997) which makes use of only two common features of martensitic transformation and aging, i.e., diffusionless symmetry change during martensitic transformation and diffusion during aging. This model appears to be able to explain all of the available experimental observations on the aging phenomena. In view of recent development in this field, we have reason to believe that we are approaching the final solution to the aging problem.     

Powder metallurgy technology of NiTi shape memory alloy

Powder metallurgy technology was elaborated for consolidation of shape memory NiTi powders. The shape memory alloy was compacted from the prealloyed powder delivered by Memry SA. The powder shows M_s = 10°C and A_s = -34°C as results from DSC measurements. The samples were hot pressed in the as delivered spherical particle's state. The hot compaction was performed in a specially constructed vacuum press, at temperature of 680°C and pressure of 400 MPa. The alloy powder was encapsulated in copper capsules prior to hot pressing to avoid oxidation or carbides formation. The alloy after hot vacuum compaction at 680°C (i.e. within the B2 NiTi stability range) has shown similar transformation range as the powder. The porosity of samples compacted in the as delivered state was only 1%. The samples tested in compression up to ε = 0.06 have shown partial superelastic effect due to martensitic reversible transform- ation which started at the stress above 300 MPa and returned back to ε = 0.015 after unloading. They have shown also a high ultimate compression strength of 1600 MPa. Measurements of the samples temperature changes during the process allowed to detect the temperature increase above 12°C for the strain rate 10^-2 s^-1 accompanied the exothermic martensite transformation during loading and the temperature decrease related to the reverse endothermic transformation during unloading.     

Premartensitic phase transformation in a TiNiFe shape memory alloy studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy

The temperature behaviour of Mössbauer spectra of a Ti₅₀Ni₄₇Fe₃ alloy, and their corresponding parameters, are related to the structural changes associated with the premartensitic charge density wave (CDW) transitions in this system, and with the final martensitic phase.     

Aspects of thermal martensite in a FeNiMnCo alloy

Thermal martensite characteristics in Fe–29%Ni–2%Mn–2%Co alloy were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Mössbauer spectroscopy characterization techniques. SEM observations obviously revealed the lath martensite morphology in the prior austenite phase of examined alloy. As well, the martensitic transformation kinetics was found to be as athermal type. On the other hand, Mössbauer spectroscopy offered the paramagnetic austenite phase and ferromagnetic martensite phase with their volume fractions. Also, the internal magnetic field of the martensite was measured as 32.9 T from the Mössbauer spectrometer.     

Heterogeneous nucleation of martensite at dislocations and the martensitic-transformation kinetics in shape memory alloys

The martensite phase formation in elastic fields of isolated screw and edge dislocations, as well as in planar clusters of like-sign dislocations and in a two-dimensional network of opposite-sign edge dislocations, is quantitatively analyzed within the theory of smeared martensitic transitions. The heterogeneous nucleation of martensite at dislocations is shown to increase the characteristic temperature of the martensitic transition and its temperature smearing.     

Heterogeneous nucleation of martensite on precipitates and the martensitic-transformation kinetics in shape memory alloys

The formation of martensite in an elastic stress field near a disk-shaped coherent precipitate is discussed in terms of the theory of diffuse martensitic transformations. The heterogeneous martensite nucleation on precipitates is found to increase the characteristic martensitic-transformation temperature, which increases linearly with the volume density of precipitates. The theoretical results are illustrated quantitatively using the example of the B2 → R phase transition in titanium nickelide alloys.