The initiation and growth of macroscopic martensite band in nano-grained NiTi microtube under tension

The superelastic behavior of polycrystalline nano-grained NiTi shape memory alloy microtube under uniaxial tension is studied in this paper. The nominal stress–strain curve of the microtube during superelastic deformation is recorded. Both direct surface observation and observation by using a special surface coating show that the deformation of the tube is via the nucleation and propagation of macroscopic stress-induced martensite band. It is also found that the martensite nucleates in the form of a spiral lens-shaped narrow band that inclines at about 33^o to the plane of cross section of tube when the stress reaches the peak of stress–strain curve. The spiral band grew via gradual increase in both width and length of the band and finally merged into a single cylindrical band. The subsequent deformation of the tube is realized by the growth of this cylindrical martensite band. Several other deformation features of the tube are also observed and the results are discussed and compared with the theoretical analysis in this paper.     

An inclusion theory for the propagation of martensite band in NiTi shape memory alloy wires under tension

In this paper, we present analytical modelling for the pure mechanical response of uniaxial tensioned NiTi wire that experiences stress-induced martensitic transformation via a propagating martensite band at the superelastic temperature regime. The model aims to predict the overall behavior of the SMA wire as a structural response containing propagating instabilities. Based on the systematic experimental investigation of Shaw and Kyriakides (Shaw, J.A., Kyriakides, S., 1995. Thermomechemical aspects of NiTi. J. Mech. Phys. Solids 43, T243–1281 and Shaw, J.A., Kyriakides, S., 1997. On the nucleation and propogation of phase transformation fronts in a NiTi alloy. Acta Mater. 45(2), 638–700), the wire is modeled as an elastic rod containing a single cylindrical transformation inclusion with a uniform axisymmetric eigenstrain. The analytical expression of the free energy of this special matrix-inclusion system is formulated and the length of the martensite band is identified as the key variable describing the transformation process of the system. Theoretical predictions on the peak stress and the subsequent steady-state propagation stress of the wire during forward and reverse transformations are provided and compared with the available experimental data. Specimen size effect on the nominal stress-strain curves and general deformation features of the wire are discussed.     

Sensor diaphragm under initial tension: Linear analysis

In this paper, we present recent efforts conducted to investigate the dynamic behavior of a sensor diaphragm under initial tension. A comprehensive mechanics model based on a plate with in-plane tension is presented and analyzed to examine the transition from plate behavior to membrane behavior. It is shown that for certain tension parameter values, it is appropriate to model the diaphragm as a plate-membrane structure rather than as a membrane. The model predictions are found to compare well with experimental results. The analysis and results should be valuable for carrying out the design of circular sensor diaphragms for various applications.     

Analysis of phase transformation from austenite to martensite in NiTi alloy strips under uniaxial tension

Phase transformation from austenite to martensite in NiTi alloy strips under the uniaxial tension has been observed in experiments and numerically simulated as a localized deformation.This work presents an analysis using the theory of phase transfor- mation.The jump of deformation gradient across the interface between two phases and the Maxwell relation are considered.Governing equations for the phase transformation are derived.The analysis is reduced to finding the minimum value of the loading at which the governing equations have a unique,real and physically acceptable solution.The equa- tions are solved numerically and it is verified that the unique solution exists definitely. The Maxwell stress,the stresses and strains inside both anstenite and martensite phases, and the transformation-front orientation angle are determined to be in reasonably good agreement with experimental observations.     

Size effects on the martensitic phase transformation of NiTi nanograins

The analysis of nanocrystalline NiTi by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that the martensitic transformation proceeds by the formation of atomic-scale twins. Grains of a size less than about 50 nm do not transform to martensite even upon large undercooling. A systematic investigation of these phenomena was carried out elucidating the influence of the grain size on the energy barrier of the transformation. Based on the experiment, nanograins were modeled as spherical inclusions containing (0 0 1) compound twinned martensite. Decomposition of the transformation strains of the inclusions into a shear eigenstrain and a normal eigenstrain facilitates the analytical calculation of shear and normal strain energies in dependence of grain size, twin layer width and elastic properties. Stresses were computed analytically for special cases, otherwise numerically. The shear stresses that alternate from twin layer to twin layer are concentrated at the grain boundaries causing a contribution to the strain energy scaling with the surface area of the inclusion, whereas the strain energy induced by the normal components of the transformation strain and the temperature dependent chemical free energy scale with the volume of the inclusion. In the nanograins these different energy contributions were calculated which allow to predict a critical grain size below which the martensitic transformation becomes unlikely. Finally, the experimental result of the atomic-scale twinning can be explained by analytical calculations that account for the transformation-opposing contributions of the shear strain and the twin boundary energy of the twin-banded morphology of martensitic nanograins.     

Effects of texture on shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression and bending

In this study, effects of typical texture components observed in rolled aluminum alloy sheets on shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression and bending are systematically studied. The material response is described by a generalized Taylor-type polycrystal model, in which each grain is characterized in terms of an elastic–viscoplastic continuum slip constitutive relation. First, a simple model analysis in which the shear band is assumed to occur in a weaker thin slice of material is performed. From this simple model analysis, two important quantities regarding shear band formation are obtained: i.e. the critical strain at the onset of shear banding and the corresponding orientation of shear band. Second, the shear band development in plane strain tension/compression is analyzed by the finite element method. Predictability of the finite element analysis is compared to that of the simple model analysis. Third, shear band developments in plane strain pure bending of a sheet specimen with the typical textures are studied. Regions near the surfaces in a bent sheet specimen are approximately subjected to plane strain tension or compression. From this viewpoint, the bendability of a sheet specimen may be evaluated, using the knowledge regarding shear band formation in plane strain tension/compression. To confirm this and to encompass overall deformation of a bent sheet specimen, including shear bands, finite element analyses of plane strain pure bending are carried out, and the predicted shear band formation in bent specimens is compared to that in the tension/compression problem. Finally, the present results are compared to previous related studies, and the efficiency of the present method for materials design in future is discussed.     

Asymmetric bifurcations in a pressurised circular thin plate under initial tension

It has been known for some time that under certain circumstances the axisymmetric solution describing the deformation experienced by a stretched circular thin plate or membrane under sufficiently strong normal pressure does not represent an energy-minimum configuration. By using the method of adjacent equilibrium a set of coordinate-free bifurcation equations is derived here by adopting the Föppl–von Kármán plate theory. A particular class of asymmetric bifurcation solutions is then investigated by reduction to a system of ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients. The localised character of the eigenmodes is confirmed numerically and we also look briefly at the role played by the background tension on this phenomenon.     

Shear band formation in thermo-viscoplastic solids under plane strain compression

The plane strain compression of a rectangular block is numerically investigated for the study of dynamic shear band development in thermo-elasto-viscoplastic materials from an internal inhomogeneity. As expected, it plays an important role in triggering the onset of shear, localization as well as thermal softening. And the competition between the strain, strain-rate hardening and thermal softening exists throughout the process. It is found that shear band develops at a 45-degree angle to the compression axis. In the light of given patterns of deformation and temperature, shear band evolution accelerated by thermal softening is retarded by the inertial effects. Interestingly, a similar temperature band is also formed along the trajectory of the localized deformation band. The calculations also show the energy evolution during the coupled thermo-mechanical process of shear band propagation. Finally, the mesh effect is discussed in terms of the numerical results from two different meshes. The project is supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China.     

Self-similar shapes of the free boundary of a nonlinear-viscous band under uniaxial tension

An equation of evolution of small perturbations of the free boundary of a nonlinear-viscous band under quasi-static uniaxial tension is derived for studying the necking problem in metals under superplasticity conditions. It is shown that the group of symmetry of this linear parabolic equation is equivalent to the group of symmetry of the linear equation of heat conduction with an arbitrary material parameter of the model. Self-similar solutions are obtained in the form of simple and complicated steady localized structures transferred together with the material of the stretched band.     

Experimental investigation on macroscopic domain formation and evolution in polycrystalline NiTi microtubing under mechanical force

This paper reports the experimental results on macroscopic deformation instability and domain morphology evolution during stress-induced austenite → martensite (A→M) phase transformation in superelastic NiTi polycrystalline shape memory alloy microtubes. High-speed data and image acquisition techniques were used to investigate the dynamic and quasi-static events which took place in a displacement-controlled quasi-static tensile loading/unloading process of the tube. These events include dynamic formation, self-merging, topology transition, convoluted front motion and front instability of a macroscopic deformation domain. The reported phenomena brought up several fundamental issues regarding the roles of macroscopic domain wall energy and kinetics as well as their interplay with the bulk strain energy of the tube in the observed morphology instability and pattern evolution under a mechanical force. These issues are believed to be essential elements in the theoretical modeling of macroscopic deformation patterns in polycrystals and need systematic examination in the future.     

The role of intergranular constraint on the stress-induced martensitic transformation in textured polycrystalline NiTi

The influences of grain boundaries and relative grain misorientations on stress-induced martensitic transformations in NiTi are studied using unique experiments and finite element modeling. Tensile and compressive mechanical tests reveal that polycrystalline NiTi with a dominant <111> fiber texture and single crystal NiTi oriented along the [111] direction exhibit nearly identical stress–strain curves during a stress-induced martensitic transformation. Micro-mechanical finite element simulations of fiber textured polycrystals and single crystals undergoing a multi-variant martensitic transformation confirm the relative indifference of the macroscopic transformation attributes to the presence of grain boundaries. On the microscale, the finite element simulations further reveal that the insensitivity of the transformation to intergranular constraint is linked to the local stress disturbance created by transforming grains. The transformation of grains that are favorably oriented with respect to the loading axis creates local stresses that invariably assist the transformation in neighboring grains, effectively lowering the influence of grain misorientations and boundaries on the macroscopic transformation behavior.     

Localization in NiTi tubes under bending

Nearly equiatomic NiTi can exhibit pseudoelastic behavior due to reversible solid-to-solid stress induced phase transformation at room level temperatures. In tension, the transformation leads to localized deformation of several percent that tends to spread at nearly constant stress. The deformation is recovered upon unloading while again localized deformation is exhibited. Under compression, while still pseudoelastic, the transformation strains are smaller, the stress is higher, the response is monotonic, and the deformation is essentially homogeneous. This study examines how this texture-driven, complex material asymmetry affects a simple structure: the bending of a tube. To this end, NiTi tubes are bent in a custom four-point bending facility under rotation control and isothermal conditions. The phase transformations lead to a closed moment-rotation hysteresis comprised of loading and unloading moment plateaus. During loading, localized nucleation of martensite results in a high curvature for the transformed sections of the tube and low curvature for the untransformed. Martensite, which corresponds to the higher curvature regime, spreads gradually while the moment remains nearly constant. The nucleation of martensite is in the form of bands inclined to the axis of the tube that organize themselves into diamond shaped deformation patterns on the tensioned side of the structure. The patterns are similar to those observed in bending of steel tubes with Lüders bands, however, for NiTi they develop only on the tensioned side due to the material asymmetry. A lower moment plateau is traced upon unloading with similar localized bending and the erasure of the diamond deformation patterns. This complex behavior was found to repeat for a number of temperatures in the pseudoelastic regime of NiTi with the moment-rotation hysteresis moving to higher or lower moment levels depending on the temperature.     

Deformation localization and shear band fracture in strong anisotropy sheet tension

The tensile deformation localization and the shear band fracture behaviors of sheet metals with strong anisotropy are numerically simulated by using Updating Lagrange finite element method, Quasi-flow plastic constitutive theory^[1] and B-L planar anisotropy yield criterion^[2]. Simulated results are compared with experimental ones. Very good consistence is obtained between numerical and experimental results. The relationship between the anisotropy coefficientR and the shear band angle θ is found. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Excellent Youth Teacher Foundation of the State Education Commission of China     

Shear band formation in generalized hypoelasticity

Summary Using a non-linear constitutive equation for sand with fixed material constants a necessary criterion for the shear band formation is expressed analytically. The shear band is considered as a shearing zone which may appear spontaneously in the course of a homogeneous plane deformation of a sand sample. The introduced criterion predicts not only the stress state at the moment of shear band formation but also the inclination of the shear band and the angle of initial dilatancy within the shear zone in a realistic way. As an example of application, the criterion has been applied to a finite element program which simulates the discharge of sand from a silo.

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Scherfugenbildung bei verallgemeinerter Hypoelastizität

Übersicht Mit einem nichtlinearen Stoffgesetz für Sand und festgelegten Stoffkonstanten wird eine notwendige Bedingung für die Scherfugenbildung analytisch formuliert. Dabei wird die Scherfuge als eine Scherzone betrachtet, die in einer ursprünglich homogenen und eben verzerrten Sandprobe spontan auftreten kann. Die Neigung der Scherfuge und der Anfangs-Dilatanzwinkel in der Scherfuge werden — ebenso wie der Spannungszustand bei der Scherfugenbildung — realistisch vorhergesagt. Als ein Anwendungsbeispiel wurde die hier eingeführte Bedingung in ein Finite-Element-Programm zur Berechnung des Ausflusses aus einem Silo eingesetzt.

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Presented at the workshop on Limit Analysis and Bifurcation Theory, held at the University of Karlsruhe (FRG), February 22–25, 1988     

Dynamic growth of martensitic plates in an elastic material

The growth of martensitic plates under conditions of anti-plane shear is considered for a particular isotropic hyperelastic material. An asymptotic solution is presented for the displacement field near the tip of a plate growing at an arbitrary velocity up to the shear wave speed of the austenite. An energy balance shows that the rate of energy dissipation is essentially the same as for the quasi-static motion of a normal equilibrium shock. Numerical solutions illustrate how the martensitic plates develop in an initial boundary value problem.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation through grant MSM-8658107 and through a grant of supercomputer resources at the John von Neumann Center.     

Atomistic simulation study on the crack growth stability of graphene under uniaxial tension and indentation

Meccanica - Combining a series of atomistic simulations with fracture mechanics theory, we systematically investigate the crack growth stability of graphene under tension and indentation, with a...     

Inelastic deformation and localization in polycarbonate under tension

It is demonstrated that uniaxial tension deformation in polycarbonate and other polymers that exhibit large inelastic deformation is unstable beyond a certain stretch. The instability first appears as a shear banding phenomenon at a characteristic angle and is then followed by a stabilized neck generation and propagation. The intrinsic material law for polycarbonate is used in a numerical implementation to reproduce completely the deformation behavior observed in uniaxial tension. In particular, it is demonstrated through numerical simulations, that intrinsic material softening is not necessary for the formation of a shear band and continued growth of a stable neck and further that the interpretation of the tensile response in terms of the constitutive behavior of the material poses significant problems.     

Necking and drawing in polymeric fibers under tension

A constitutive relation is proposed for the dependence of the tension in a thin polymeric fiber on the variation of the stretch ratio λ along the fiber axis. When this relation is placed in the equation of balance of forces, it yields a nonlinear second-order differential equation for λ whose equilibrium solutions (for a long fiber) are known in other contexts. The solutions describe necks, bulges, drawing configurations, and periodic striations. The assumption that motions resulting from gradual changes in tension or length are homotopies formed from these equilibrium solutions is compatible with many of the observed properties of tension-induced necking and drawing in fibers of such polymers as nylon and polyethylene.