Landau-Ginzburg model for a deformation-driven experiment on shape memory alloys

A Landau-Ginzburg model describing first order martensitic phase transitions in shape memory alloys is considered. The model developed by Falk is transformed in order to simulate deformation-driven experiments done by I. Müller and his co-workers. In these experiments, they do not only observe load-deformation hysteresis loops but also small loops inside these hysteresis loops. Numerical simulations for a CuZnAl single crystal show good agreement with the experiment. We find, for example, nucleation processes, moving phase boundaries, rate-independent hysteresis loops and interior loops. Received January 25, 1996