On the thermo-mechanically coupled simulation of poly-crystalline Shape Memory Alloys

We present a thermo-mechanically coupled model for poly-crystalline shape memory alloys which accounts both for the localized phase transformations and the resulting heat production. The model is based on the physical principles of energy conservation and entropy maximization. Choosing an appropriate ansatz for the entropy production the evolution equation for the phases can be derived as well the heat conduction equation. The results show good agreement to experimental findings. (© 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)