Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

The aim of our study is to discuss a new methodology to account for the effect of strain rate on ductile fracture phenomena. Theory of inelastic materials accounting for the effects of microshear bands and microdamage is presented. The influence of microshear bands is explained by means of a function describing the instantaneous contribution of shear banding in the total rate of plastic deformation. The experimental investigations of the effect of strain rate on ductile fracture with use of the results of a dynamic double shear test of DH-36 steel with thermographic observations are reported. The registration of temperature evolution during the deformation process can provide additional data for the identification of the shear banding contribution function and the onset of ductile fracture.

Effect of strain rate, ductile fracture, dynamic double shear test, DH-36 steel, thermographic observation

In order to develop a two-way rotary shape memory alloy thin strip actuator, the torsional deformation and fatigue properties of a TiNi SMA thin strip were investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows. (1) In the SMA thin strip subjected to torsion, the MT appears along the edge of the strip due to elongation of the edge of the strip and grows to the central part. (2) The number of cycles to failure decreases with an increase in the maximum angle of twist in torsion fatigue. The fatigue life in pulsating torsion is longer than that in alternating torsion by five times. The fatigue limit exists in a certain value of dissipated work of the strip in each cycle. (3) Based on the two-way motion of a lifting actuator model driven by two kinds of SMA thin strip, it is confirmed that the two-way rotary actuator with a small and simple mechanism can be developed by using the SMA thin strips.

shape memory alloy, thin strip, torsion, cyclic deformation, fatigue, rotary actuator, two-way motion

The torsional deformation properties of a TiNi shape-memory alloy thin strip were investigated. The results obtained are summarized as follows. (1) The martensitic transformation starts at the edge of the thin strip. (2) The torsional deformation properties change slightly under thermomechanical cycling. (3) The fatigue life in pul- sating torsion is longer than that in alternating torsion. (4) A simple rotary driving element can be developed by using the SMA thin strip.

shape memory alloy, thin strip, torsion, cyclic deformation, fatigue, rotary driving element

If a shape-memory alloy (SMA) thin strip is applied as an element subjected to torsion, a rotary driving element with a simple mechanism can be developed. The torsion tests were carried out for the SMA thin strip. Torque and recovery torque, both increase in proportion to the angle of twist and temperature. The recoverable strain energy increases in proportion to temperature. The dissipated work decreases slightly with an increase in temperature. A means of opening and closing a door with an element driven by an SMA thin strip is demonstrated.

Rotary Driving Element, Shape Memory Alloy Actuator, Strain Energy, Thin Strip, Torsion

Thermomechanical and functional properties of shape memory polyurethane are presented. A background of the polymer shape memory effects is described. Elastic modulus at various temperatures and the polyurethane parameters important for the practical applications, called shape fixity and shape recovery, are derived. Taking advantages from the high quality testing machine and infrared camera, mechanical characteristics and temperature changes of the shape memory polyurethane specimens subjected to tension test carried out in various conditions are clarified and analyzed. Stress-strain curves and the relevant temperature changes are recorded both in the elastic and the plastic ranges of deformation. A significant value of a thermoelastic effect is observed. Taking into account the obtained experimental data from the polyurethane tension tests performed at room temperature, followed by the heating above its glass transition temperature, the shape memory polyurethane properties are studied.

shape memory polyurethane, glass transition temperature, tension, mechanical characteristics, infrared camera, temperature change, thermoelastic effect, localization

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 Ms = 10°C and As = -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 transformation 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.

Powder metallurgy technology, shape memory alloys, DSC measurements, compression test, exothermic martensite transformation, endothermic reverse transformation

The main characteristics which appear in shape memory alloys (SMAs) are the shape memory effect and superelasticity. In applications of SMAs, the thermomechanical properties of SMAs are most important. The return-point memory does not appear under the stress-controlled conditions. Creep and stress relaxation can be induced due to the phase transformation in the subloop loading under the stress-controlled conditions. In order to design the SMA elements properly, it is important to understand the influence of the thermomechanical loading conditions on the nucleation and progress of the phase transformation and the corresponding deformation behaviors. In the present paper, the conditions for the nucleation and progress of the phase transformation are investigated for SMAs subjected to the subloop loadings under the stress-controlled conditions. The uniaxial tension tests for the TiNi SMAs were carried out in the superelastic region under the various thermomechanical loading conditions. The thermomechanical conditions for the progress of the phase transformation are discussed in the subloop loading under the stresscontrolled conditions. Strain increases during unloading and decreases during reloading under the stress-controlled subloop loading. These pseudoviscoelastic behaviors are important for the precise control of SMA elements.

shape-memory alloy, titanium-nickel alloy, subloop, superelasticity, creep, stress relaxation, neutral loading

The characteristics of energy storage and dissipation in TiNi shape memory alloys were investigated experimentally based on the superelastic properties under various thermomechanical loading conditions. The results obtained can be summarized as follows. (1) The recoverable strain energy increases in proportion to the rise in temperature, but the dissipated work per unit volume depends slightly on temperature. In the case of low strain rates, the recoverable strain energy and dissipated work do not depend on both the strain rate and the temperature-controlled condition. (2) In the case of high strain rates, while the recoverable strain energy decreases and the dissipated work increases in proportion to the rise in strain rate under the temperature-controlled condition, the recoverable strain energy increases and the dissipated work decreases under the temperatureuncontrolled condition.

Nucleation and development of phase transformation fronts in TiNi shape memory alloy subjected to the stress- and strain-controlled tension tests were investigated. A thermovision camera was applied to register the distribution of infrared radiation emitted by the specimen and to find its temperature variations. During the loading, narrow bands of considerably higher temperature corresponding to the martensitic phase, starting from the central part of the specimen and developing towards the specimen grips, under both approaches, were registered. The inclined bands of heterogeneous temperature distribution were observed also during the unloading process of the SMA, while the reverse transformation accompanied by temperature decrease took place. Thermomechanical aspects of martensitic and reverse transformations for various strain rates were analyzed under both stress- and strain-controlled tests.

Shape memory alloy, Martensitic transformation, Phase transformation front, Temperature change, Stress-controlled test, Strain-controlled test, Infrared thermography

Properties and characteristics of superelastic deformation behavior based on Lu¨ders-Like phase transformation bands in TiNi shape memory alloy (SMA) are presented. Temperature distributions accompanying the stress-induced phase transformations in the SMA are found using the infrared technique and employed for the investigation into nucleation and further development of the bands of martensitic and reverse transformations. Based on the temperature and the relevant mechanical characteristics it is noticed that just after crossing a certain threshold stress, narrow bands of considerably higher temperature, about 8K, corresponding to the martensitic phase, appear starting from the central part of the specimen and developing towards the both specimen borders. A few such bands parallel to each other occur at higher stresses and move towards the specimen grips, as well as their next generation, developing in almost perpendicular direction. The heterogeneous field of the temperature distribution was observed also during the unloading process, while the reverse transformation occurred, also inhomogeneous and related to the significant temperature decrease. Based on the tests carried out with various strain rates, an influence of the strain rate on the mechanical behavior was presented. Thermomechanical aspects of the martensitic and the reverse transformations were discussed.

superelastic deformation, shape memory alloy, phase transformation bands, temperature change, infrared camera

Results of static and dynamic compression tests for two types of glass fibrereinforced polypropylene composites are presented. Stress-strain curves showing the influence of the strain rate on the composite mechanical properties have been obtained.
A three-dimensional description of the material behavior during the deformation has been developed. The material constitutive parameters have been calculated.
Specification of the parameters and description of the methods used for their identification have been worked out. The results are discussed in terms of the deformation processes and the material non-homogeneity.

static and dynamic compression tests, glass fibrereinforced polypropylene composites, Stress-strain curves, constitutive model, three-dimensional description

The characteristics of energy storage and dissipation in TiNi shape memory alloys were investigated experimentally based on the superelastic properties under various thermomechanical loading conditions. The influence of strain rate, cyclic loading and temperature-controlled condition on the characteristics of energy storage and dissipation of the material was investigated. Temperature on the surface of the material was observed and the influence of variation in temperature on the characteristics was clarified. The results obtained can be summarized as follows. (1) In the case of low strain rate, the stress plateaus appear on the stress-strain curves due to the martensitic transformation and the reverse transformation during loading and unloading. In the case of high strain rate, the slopes of the stress–strain curves are steep in the phase-transformation regions during loading and unloading. The recoverable strain energy per unit volume increases in proportion to temperature, but the dissipated work per unit volume depends slightly on temperature. In the case of low strain rate, the recoverable strain energy and dissipated work do not depend on both strain rate and the temperature-controlled condition. (2) In the case of high strain rate, while the recoverable strain energy density decreases and dissipated work density increases in proportion to strain rate under the temperature-controlled condition, the recoverable strain energy density increases and dissipated work density decreases under the temperature-uncontrolled condition. In the case of the temperature-uncontrolled condition, temperature varies significantly due to the martensitic transformation and therefore the characteristics of energy storage and dissipation differ from these under the temperature-controlled condition. (3) In the case of cyclic loading, both the recoverable strain energy and dissipated work decrease in the early 20 cycles, but change slightly thereafter. (4) The influence of strain rate, cyclic loading and the environment on the characteristics of energy storage and dissipation is important to be considered in the design of shape memory alloy elements. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Shape memory ally; Superelasticity; Energy storage; Energy dissipation; Damping; Strain rate; Cyclic deformation; Titanium–nickel alloy; Environment

Shape memory ally, Superelasticity, Energy storage, Energy dissipation, Damping, Strain rate, Cyclic deformation, Titanium–nickel alloy, Environment

Shape memory alloys are characterised by interesting properties, i.e. shape memory effect and pseudoelasticity, which enable their
increasing application. Thermomechanical aspects of martensitic and reverse transformations in TiNi shape memory alloy subjected to tension
tests were investigated. The stress-strain characteristics obtained during the tests were completed by the temperature characteristics. The temperature
changes were calculated on the basis of thermograms determined by an infrared camera. Taking advantages from the infrared technique,
the temperature distributions on the specimen’s surface were found. Heterogeneous temperature distributions, related to the nucleation and
development of the new martensite phase, were registered and analysed. A significant temperature increase, up to 30 K, was registered during
the martensitic transformation. The similar effects of the heterogeneous temperature distribution were observed during unloading, while the
reverse transformation, martensite into austenite took place, accompanied by significant temperature decrease.

shape memory alloy, pseudoelasticity, transformation front, thermomechanical, investigations