A constitutive model for shape memory alloy fibres and its applicability to prestressed composites

This contribution is concerned with a constitutive model for shape memory fibres. The 1D-constitutive model accounts for the pseudoplastic and shape memory effect (SME). The macroscopic answer of the material is determined by the evolution from a twinned martensitic lattice into a deformed and detwinned one. On the macroscopic scale these effects are responsible for the upper boundary of the hysteresis which is situated around the origin of the stress-strain-diagram. During the phase transition process inelastic strains arise. When the lattice is fully detwinned, a linear elastic branch at the end of the hysteresis is observed. The initial state of the material is recovered by unloading and heating the material subsequently. The constitutive model is derived from the Helmholtz' free energy and fulfils the 2nd law of thermodynamics. For the present model five internal state variables are employed. Two of them are used to describe the inelastic strain and a backstress. The others represent the martensitic volume fraction and are necessary to describe the SME. The latter variables are depending on the deformation state as well as on temperature. A change on temperature goes along with a reduction of the inelastic strain. The model is incorporated in a fibre matrix discretization to prestress the surrounding structure. The boundary value problem is solved for a truss element applying the finite element method. Examples will demonstrate the applicability in engineering structures. (© 2011 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Pseudoelasticity of Shape Memory Alloys - a 1D Material Model and Finite Element Implementation

This contribution is concerned with the formulation of a 1D-constitutive model accounting for the pseudoelastic behavior of shape memory alloys. The stress-strain-relationship is idealized by a hysteresis both in the compression as in the tension loading range. It is characterized by an upper loading path, which is to be ascribed to the transformation of the lattice to a martensitic structure. Unloading the material, a lower path is described, because of the reverse transformation into austenitic lattice. The constitutive model is based on a switching criterion which serves as a potential function for the evolution of the internal state variables. The model distinguishes between local and global variables to describe the hysteresis effects for the compression and tension range. A strain driven algorithm which captures the complete nonlinear material behavior is presented. The boundary value problem is solved for a truss element applying the finite element method. A consistent linearization of the nonlinear equations is derived. Simple examples will demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model. For future developments the usage of shape memory alloys within civil engineering structures is aimed. The advantage of the material is the very good damping behavior and the potential to overcome great strains. Both properties are distinguished to be of engineering interest. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A solid-shell finite element for fibre reinforced composites

Fibre reinforced composites consisting of several layers, each of which is composed of a woven fabric embedded in a matrix material, are investigated in this paper. Such materials are characterized by a complex anisotropic behavior, which necessitates a fully three-dimensional formulation of the constitutive equations. On the other hand, they are frequently used in thin shell-like applications. In order to account for the three-dimensional material law while still providing the suitable shape for thin structures, a solid-shell finite element for fibre composite materials is presented herein. Locking phenomena are treated by both the enhanced assumed strain (EAS) concept and the assumed natural strain concept (ANS). Using reduced integration together with hourglass stabilization leads to high computational efficiency. The anisotropic constitutive behavior of the composites is reflected by a micromechanically motivated continuum model, which –together with the solid-shell formulation– allows for an accurate representation of the through-the-thickness stress distribution even for thin structures. (© 2012 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Numerical Simulation of the Application of NiTi Alloys in Medical Technologies

Shape memory alloys are nowadays already established as a material which is able to solve exceptional tasks in practical applications. Particularly, its utilization in the field of medical technologies increases steadily. For example micro tools (staple, catheters) and implants (coronary stents) are made out of Nickel-Titanium well known as a basic shape memory alloy. Apart from the advantages like the avoidance of auxiliary components and joints in the system and to utilize the high volume specific work of shape memory alloys, NiTi alloys exhibit a good biocompatibility. This property is necessary with regard to either permanent or temporary implants. To optimize the use of NiTi alloys in the scope of medical technologies, the support of the development of applicable tools by numerical simulations is highly recommended. However the complex material behaviour containing a profoundly thermomechanical coupling poses indeed a big challenge to the material modeling and its implementation into a finite element code. Particularly, the material model proposed by Helm [1] proves to be a firm model containing the most common properties of shape memory alloys, as the pseudoelasticity, the shape memory effect and the two-way effect. In the present contribution the FE modelling of a medical staple used in foot surgery is presented by considering the model of Helm which was investigated by the authors to improve its performance in the finite element method [2]. The foot staple, produced by a group of members of the SFB 459 which is funded by the DFG, avails the shape memory effect to excite the desired clamping effect [3]. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A Thermomechanical Model for a Class of Hyperelastic Materials with Viscoelastic Properties of a Single‐Integral Type

To incorporate the strain rate dependence and strain memory properties in the constitutive formulation, we introduce integral hereditary operators of Volterra type in place of free material constants of a general hyper stress constitutive model. The corresponding constitutive equations, which are derived from the proposed form of a free energy functional, are based on a single‐integral type representation of the response functionals inherent in the expression for free energy. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A nonlinear model for ferromagnetic shape memory alloy actuators

Ferromagnetic shape memory alloys (FSMAs) such as Ni–Mn–Ga have attracted significant attention over the last few years. As actuators, these materials offer high energy density, large stroke, and high bandwidth. These properties make FSMAs potential candidates for a new generation of actuators. The preliminary dynamic characterization of Ni–Mn–Ga illustrates evident nonlinear behaviors including hysteresis, saturation, first cycle effect, and dead zone. In this paper, in order to precisely control the position of FSMA actuators a mathematical model is developed. The Ni–Mn–Ga actuator model consists of the dynamic model of the actuator, the kinematics of the actuator, the constitutive model of the FSMA material, the reorientation kinetics of the FSMA material, and the electromagnetic model of the actuator. Furthermore, a constitutive model is proposed to take into account the elastic deformation as well as the reorientation. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the dynamic behavior of the actuator.     

Flow-induced anisotropic viscosity in short fiber reinforced polymers

The commonly used flow models for fiber reinforced polymers often neglect the flow induced mechanical anisotropy of the suspension. With an increasing fiber volume fraction, this plays, however, an important role. There are some models which count on this effect, they are, however, phenomenological and require a fitted model parameter. In this paper, a micromechanically based constitutive law is proposed which considers the flow induced anisotropic viscosity of the fiber suspension. The introduced viscosity tensor can handle arbitrary anisotropy of the fluid-fiber mixture depending on the actual fiber orientation distribution. A homogenization method for unidirectional structures in contribution with orientation averaging is used to determine the effective viscosity tensor. The motion of rigid ellipsoidal fibers induced by the flow of the matrix material is described by Jeffery's equation. A numerical implementation of the introduced model is applied to representative flow modes. The calculated stress values are analyzed in transient and stationary flow cases. They show a less pronounced anisotropic viscous behaviour in every investigated case compared to the results obtained by the use of the Dinh-Armstrong constitutive law. The reason for the qualitative difference is that the presented model depends on the complete orientation information, while the other one is linear in the fourth-order fiber orientation tensor. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Modeling of large deformation frictional contact in powder compaction processes

In this paper, the computational aspects of large deformation frictional contact are presented in powder forming processes. The influence of powder–tool friction on the mechanical properties of the final product is investigated in pressing metal powders. A general formulation of continuum model is developed for frictional contact and the computational algorithm is presented for analyzing the phenomena. It is particularly concerned with the numerical modeling of frictional contact between a rigid tool and a deformable material. The finite element approach adopted is characterized by the use of penalty approach in which a plasticity theory of friction is incorporated to simulate sliding resistance at the powder–tool interface. The constitutive relations for friction are derived from a Coulomb friction law. The frictional contact formulation is performed within the framework of large FE deformation in order to predict the non-uniform relative density distribution during large deformation of powder die pressing. A double-surface cap plasticity model is employed together with the nonlinear contact friction behavior in numerical simulation of powder material. Finally, the numerical schemes are examined for efficiency and accuracy in modeling of several powder compaction processes.     

On a micro-sphere based remodelling formulation for orthotropic soft biological tissue

An essential property of biological tissues in vivo is the ability to adapt according to respective loading conditions--for example by changing its mass, shape, or internal structure, the latter for instance being associated with fibre reorientation and often denoted as remodelling. In this contribution, a three-dimensional micro-sphere-based constitutive model for anisotropic soft biological tissue is presented, which includes these fibre-reorientation-related remodelling effects. As a key aspect, time-dependent remodelling effects are incorporated by introducing evolution equations for the referential orientations of the integration directions, as present in the computational micro-sphere approach. Based on this, a remodelling formulation for the orthotropic case with two mean fibre orientations will be presented. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A hybrid element formulation for electromechanical problems

The difficulty in the modeling of ferroelectric materials is the coverage of the complicated interactions between electrical and mechanical quantities on the macroscale, which are caused by switching processes on the microscale. In the present work we present an electric hybrid element formulation where the stresses and the electric fields are derived by constitutive relations as presented in [1]. Therefore the displacements, the electric potential and the electric displacements are approximated by bilinear ansatz functions. Applying a static condensation procedure we obtain a modified finite element formulation governed by the degrees of freedoms associated to the displacements and the electric potential. The anisotropic material behavior is modeled within a coordinate-invariant formulation [6] for an assumed transversely isotropic material [4]. In this context a general return algorithm is applied to compute the remanent quantities at the actual timestep. Resulting hysteresis loops for the ferroelectric ceramics are presented. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A cohesive element approach for viscoelastic interface properties

This paper introduces a time dependent extension of the nonlinear traction separation law for an interface element. The constitutive equations of the load history dependent behaviour of the material are depicted and derived according to a generalized Maxwell‐model. This finite linear, viscoelastic approach allows the consideration of long term loading and time dependent material behaviour in thin layers. The implementation of the presented element formulation and the material approach are verified by numerical examples. The paper gives an outlook on further work and research topics. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Constitutive modeling of the mechanics associated with crystallizable shape memory polymers

Shape memory polymers are novel materials that can be easily formed into complex shapes, retaining memory of their original shape even after undergoing large deformations. The temporary shape is stable and return to the original shape is triggered by a suitable mechanism such as heating. In this paper, we develop constitutive equations to model the mechanical behavior of crystallizable shape memory polymers. Crystallizable shape memory polymers are called crystallizable because the temporary shape is fixed by a crystalline phase, while return to the original shape is due to the melting of this crystalline phase. The modeling is done using a framework that was developed recently for studying crystallization in polymers ([28], [25], [27], [31]) and is based on the theory of multiple natural configurations. In this paper we formulate constitutive equations for the original amorphous phase and the semi-crystalline phase that is formed after the onset of crystallization. In addition we model the melting of the crystalline phase to capture the return of the polymer to its original shape. The model has been used to simulate a typical uni-axial cycle of deformation, the results of this simulation compare very well with experimental data. In addition to this we also simulate circular shear of a hollow cylinder and present results for different cases in this geometry.     

Constitutive modeling of the mechanics associated with crystallizable shape memory polymers

Shape memory polymers are novel materials that can be easily formed into complex shapes, retaining memory of their original shape even after undergoing large deformations. The temporary shape is stable and return to the original shape is triggered by a suitable mechanism such as heating. In this paper, we develop constitutive equations to model the mechanical behavior of crystallizable shape memory polymers. Crystallizable shape memory polymers are called crystallizable because the temporary shape is fixed by a crystalline phase, while return to the original shape is due to the melting of this crystalline phase. The modeling is done using a framework that was developed recently for studying crystallization in polymers ([28], [25], [27], [31]) and is based on the theory of multiple natural configurations. In this paper we formulate constitutive equations for the original amorphous phase and the semi-crystalline phase that is formed after the onset of crystallization. In addition we model the melting of the crystalline phase to capture the return of the polymer to its original shape. The model has been used to simulate a typical uni-axial cycle of deformation, the results of this simulation compare very well with experimental data. In addition to this we also simulate circular shear of a hollow cylinder and present results for different cases in this geometry. Received: January 5, 2005     

形状记忆合金相变过程三维大变形有限元模拟

形状记忆合金（SMA）一直被作为智能材料开发,并被用于阻尼器、促动器和智能传感器元件．形状记忆合金（SMA）的一项重要特性,是它具有恢复在机械加卸载周期下产生的大变形而不表现出永久变形的能力．该文旨在介绍一种由应力产生的相变且可以描述马氏体和奥氏体之间的超弹性滞回环现象本构方程．形状记忆合金的马氏体系数假设为应力偏张量的函数,因此形状记忆合金在相变过程中锁定体积．本构模型是在大变形有限元的基础上执行的,采用了现时构型Lagrange大变形算法．为了方便地使用Cauchy应力和线性应变本构关系,使用了与旋转无关的Jaumann应力增率计算应力．数值分析结果表明,相变引起的超弹性滞回环可以有效地通过该文提出的本构方程和大变形有限元模拟．     

The minimum free energy for an electromagnetic conductor

We consider the linear theory of the electromagnetism characterized by a constitutive equation for the current density with memory effects. We find in the frequency domain a first expression of the minimum free energy, which is the maximum recoverable work we can obtain from a given state of the material. By using another equivalent formulation of the minimum free energy, we give the explicit formulae for the particular case of a discrete spectrum model material response.     

Nonlinear finite element analysis of orthotropic and prestressed membrane structures

A new methodology for the geometrically nonlinear analysis of orthotropic membrane structures using triangular finite elements is presented. The approach is based on writing the constitutive equations in the principal fiber orientation of the material. A direct consequence of the fiber orientation strategy is the possibility to analyze initially out-of-plane prestressed membrane structures. An algorithm to model wrinkling behavior is also described. Examples of application to a number of membrane structures are presented.     

Analysis of a history-dependent frictional contact problem

We consider a mathematical model which describes the quasistatic contact between a viscoelastic body and a foundation. The material’s behaviour is modelled with a constitutive law with long memory. The contact is frictional and is modelled with normal compliance and memory term, associated to the Coulomb’s law of dry friction. We present the classical formulation of the problem, list the assumptions on the data and derive a variational formulation of the model. Then we prove the unique weak solvability of the problem. The proof is based on arguments of history-dependent variational inequalities. We also study the dependence of the weak solution with respect to the data and prove a convergence result.     

A gradient model for finite strain elastoplasticity coupled with damage

This paper describes the formulation of an implicit gradient damage model for finite strain elastoplasticity problems including strain softening. The strain softening behavior is modeled through a variant of Lemaitre's damage evolution law. The resulting constitutive equations are intimately coupled with the finite element formulation, in contrast with standard local material models. A 3D finite element including enhanced strains is used with this material model and coupling peculiarities are fully described. The proposed formulation results in an element which possesses spatial position variables, nonlocal damage variables and also enhanced strain variables. Emphasis is put on the exact consistent linearization of the arising discretized equations.

A numerical set of examples comparing the results of local and the gradient formulations relative to the mesh size influence is presented and some examples comparing results from other authors are also presented, illustrating the capabilities of the present proposal.