Shape Memory Alloy Matrix Research Articles

Design of self-healing materials for the integration of structural health monitoring (SHM^2)

Integration of the complementary fields of structural health monitoring in self-healing materials (SHM2) has the potential to transform the traditional engineering concepts of fail safe and damaged tolerant design. Structural health monitoring seeks to embed and automate sensing capabilities within structures to determine their state and to detect degradation or damage. Once degradation or damage is detected, additional decisions and potential action are required. Reducing operational envelopes can prevent further damage accumulation or catastrophic failure or repairs can be performed to correct the degradation. Typical repair requires active involvement of personnel and potentially down time. Self-healing materials seek to avoid maintenance needs and down time through the creation of structures and materials with an imbued capability to repair damage. Together SHM^ 2 has the potential to create a closed loop where damage is detected using embedded sensors and automated analysis that can then initiate self-healing. The highly structured and controlled nature of self-healing materials presents an opportunity to design structures that additionally support health monitoring capabilities. This paper presents recent research and results informing the design of shape memory alloy (SMA) fiber reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) to optimize self-healing capabilities and structural health monitoring (SHM^2). Fiber pull tests were performed to analyze the strength of the interface between the SMA fibers and matrix allowing for sizing to complement both composite design and healing capabilities. Analysis was performed to understand complex failure mechanisms occurring at the interface between detwinning shape memory alloys and the metal matrix. And novel composite design was performed to support both the self-healing and damage detection capabilities of the material structure.

Achieving high strength and large recoverable strain by designing honeycomb-structural dual-shape-memory-alloy composite

Developing shape memory alloys (SMAs) with high strength and large recoverable strain is meaningful to broaden their application in extreme scenarios. In this work, a dual-SMA composite with bio-spired honeycomb structure, which consists of NiTi SMA matrix and NiTiZrCu SMA reinforcement, was designed and fabricated through the combination of 3D printing and hot extrusion. The utilization of honeycomb structure ensures uniform stress transmission and reducing the likelihood of stress concentration. The resulting microstructure, martensite transformation, and superelasticity were studied systematically. The dual-SMA composite exhibited a superior superelasticity with a remarkable recoverable strain higher than 5% and good recovery rate of 96% under a high external stress of 1.4 GPa. Fundamentally, the honeycomb structure in the dual-SMA composite facilitates the occurrence of progressive phase transformation process. The large recoverable strain and good recovery rate were attributed to the coupling effect of superelasticity and linear-elasticity throughout the whole loading process, which enables the dual-SMA composite to sustainably bear the load without undergoing plastic yielding. These findings make it available for designing and fabricating SMA composites with superior performance.

Modeling of Superelastic–plastic Behavior of Porous Shape Memory Alloys Incorporating Void Shape Effects

A new constitutive model for describing the superelastic–plastic behavior of porous shape memory alloys (SMAs) is proposed. The model incorporates the influences of void shape and hydrostatic pressure as well as the elastic modulus mismatch between austenite and martensite. In addition, the interactions between plastic strain and transformation strain are considered via the plastic back stress. The porous SMAs are considered as two-phase composites with the dense SMA matrix and the second phase representing ellipsoidal voids. Based on Gurson’s formulation, the transformation and plastic flow potentials accounting for the transformation–plasticity coupling are developed. The numerical results present good agreement with available experimental data for various levels of porosity, which proves that the model is capable of capturing stress-induced phase transformation and plastic deformation of porous SMAs. Using the proposed model, the influence of plastic strain on reverse transformation and the effects of porosity and void shape on the pseudoelastic and plastic behavior of porous SMAs are investigated.

On the fracture response of shape memory alloys by void growth and coalescence

Although Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) belong to a relatively brittle class of materials, that of intermetallics, their fracture surfaces are characterized by both cleavage and dimples, with the latter being indicative of ductile rupture. Two clear differentiators of SMAs from other intermetallics, which may contribute to the presence of ductile rupture are their ability to transform their crystallographic structure and the presence of precipitates in large volume fractions. In this paper, unit cell simulations are employed in an effort to quantify the relative importance of the two fracture mechanisms in the overall failure response of these materials. The numerical simulations involve a single pre-existing void, assumed to have initiated from a second phase particle, embedded in a SMA matrix material. Thus, the unit cell studies allow for an investigation of void growth and coalescence, ignoring void formation and its footprint in the subsequent microstructure evolution. The numerical studies show that void growth is rather limited before the peak stress-value in the effective stress–effective strain response of the unit cell for initial void-volume fractions representative of precipitation-hardened SMAs. Given the available experimental observations on notched round bars, which indicate that precipitation-hardened SMAs fail in a stress-controlled manner, the numerical studies suggest that void growth and coalescence should play a minor role in the formation of dimples, as compared to that of void nucleation and cleavage, and in turn into the fracture response of precipitated SMAs.

Constitutive Modeling of Porous Shape Memory Alloys Using Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman Model Under Isothermal Conditions

Based on the Gurson–Tvergaard–Needleman (GTN) model, a constitutive relationship considering both the effects of strain hardening and hydrostatic stress for porous shape memory alloys (SMAs) is proposed. To capture the relationship between microscopic and mesoscopic behaviors, a representative volume element (RVE) containing an array of spherical voids is presented. In this paper, an approximate solution including strain hardening exponent [Formula: see text] is deduced by considering the porous SMA as a two phase composite with the SMA matrix and the second phase representing voids. The model parameters, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], accounting for interactions between voids are investigated to take into account their influences on strain hardening, critical phase transformation stress and yield surface. In addition, the evolution equations of phase transformation are derived and then applied to the simulation of porous Ni–Ti SMAs with a porosity of 13%. Using the calibrated GTN model parameters, the critical phase transformation stress closer to experimental data is obtained. The predictions of stress–strain curve by the proposed constitutive model are found to be in excellent agreement with published experimental data and finite element results. The results prove that the model is capable of reproducing the features of porous SMAs such as superelasticity, tensile-compressive asymmetry and internal loops under uniaxial even combined loading conditions. A conclusion is drawn that the present constitutive relationship is powerful and useful for the analysis of porous SMAs.

Review on fabrication and mechanical characterization of shape memory alloy hybrid composites

Metals are replaced by composites in various structural applications as composite possesses unique properties such as low weight, high specific strength, and stiffness. However, there is a need to enhance mechanical properties of composite structure. Therefore, hybridization of composite is required that can improve mechanical properties in different testing conditions. One method of fabricating hybrid composite is by reinforcing the shape memory alloy (SMA) in composite laminates. In spite of various advantages offered by the SMA, there is always a challenge in an integration of SMA with the composite for the hybridization. Mainly, these challenges offered during the fabrication process due to their incompatibility of matrix fiber, lack of bonding between SMA and polymer matrix, location of SMA in the composite, and curing temperature of composites. Different methods have been proposed by various researchers for reinforcing SMA into composite. The current review emphasizes the fabrication process of SMA hybrid composite (SMAHC), fractographic study using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to detect interfacial bonding of SMA and polymer matrix and also the effect of SMA reinforcement on mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural, and impact.

Phase field simulation of martensitic transformation in pre-strained nanocomposite shape memory alloys

We show in this paper how strain engineering alters the fundamental characteristic of a martensitic transformation (MT) and gives it a new set of properties including large quasi-linear elastic strain response with nearly vanishing hysteresis and low elastic modulus. The work is motivated and inspired by a recent experimental study on elastic and inelastic (transformation) strain matching in a pre-strained nano-composite with Nb nanowires embedded in a NiTi shape memory alloy matrix. In particular, we demonstrate by computer simulation that dislocations at Nb/NiTi interfaces produced by the pre-straining are responsible for the unprecedented properties. Microstructural evolution captured in the simulations reveals that local stress fields associated with the dislocations regulate the nucleation and growth of martensite, turning the otherwise sharp, strong first-order transition into a continuous, high-order like transition. The simulations predict that the stress-strain hysteresis and modulus of the composite decrease with increasing amount of pre-strain, which agrees well with the experimental measurement. This study suggests a design strategy by introducing non-uniform stress fields for enhanced properties of shape memory alloys.

Insight into the Effects of Reinforcement Shape on Achieving Continuous Martensite Transformation in Phase Transforming Matrix Composites

A continuous martensite transformation is indispensable for achieving large linear superelasticity and low modulus in phase transforming metal-based composites. However, determining how to accurately condition the residual martensite in a shape memory alloy matrix though the reinforcement shape to achieve continuous martensite transformation has been a challenge. Here, we take the finite element method to perform a comparative study of the effects of nanoinclusion shape on the interaction and martensite phase transformation in this new composite. Two typical samples are compared: one reinforced by metallic nanowires and the other by nanoparticles. We find that the residual martensite within the shape memory alloy matrix after a pretreatment can be tailored by the reinforcement shape. In particular, our results show that the shape memory alloy matrix can retain enough residual martensite phases to achieve continuous martensite transformation in the subsequent loading when the aspect ratio of nanoreinforcement is larger than 20. In contrast, the composites reinforced with spherical or low aspect ratio reinforcement show a typical nonlinear superelasticity as a result of a low stress transfer-induced discontinuous martensite transformation within the shape memory alloy matrix.

Improved adhesion between nickel–titanium SMA and polymer matrix via acid treatment and nano-silica particles coating

Shape memory alloy (SMA) composites are the desirable candidate for smart materials that used in intelligent structures. However, the overall mechanical performance of SMA composites depends immensely on the quality of the interaction between SMA and polymer matrix. Therefore, it is necessary to find out an approach to enhance the interfacial property of this composite. In this paper, we modified nickel–titanium SMA wire with nano-silica particles before and after acid treatment. The modification effect on the interfacial strength between SMA and epoxy resin was evaluated. Contact angle analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, and single fiber pull-out test were carried out. The bonding characteristics between modified wire and liquid/cured resin were investigated. We then embedded SMA wire into woven glass fabric/epoxy composite laminates, and manufactured this hybrid composites via vacuum assisted resin transfer molding processing. Three-point-bending test of the hybrid composites was performed to validate the modification effect. Fiber pull-out experiment demonstrates that the interfacial shear strength increases by 6.48% by nano-silica particles coating, while it increases by 52.21% after 8 h acid treatment and nano-silica particles coating simultaneously. For hybrid composites, flexural strength of the two specimens increases by 19.8 and 48.2%, respectively. In SEM observation, we observed large debonding region in unmodified composites, while interfacial adhesion between modified wire and epoxy keeps strong after flexural damage.

3D hierarchical multiscale analysis of heterogeneous SMA based materials

A 3D hierarchical multiscale computational homogenization framework with periodic Representative Volume Element (RVE) is proposed in the present study for analysis of shape memory alloy (SMA) fiber reinforced composite and porous SMA specimen. The shape memory alloy, which exhibits forward and reverse transformations, is wired through a matrix, while a dense SMA matrix encircles voids as inclusions in the porous model. The asymptotic mathematical homogenization approach is used to express the microscopic and macroscopic governing equations. An iterative solution is used at each point in order to derive the tangential constitutive response of the corresponding periodic RVE. Several numerical problems are solved and the results are compared with those obtained from a fully meshed direct numerical model. Detailed discussions are presented regarding the distribution of field variables, in particular the martensitic volume fraction and the stress state inside RVEs located at critical points of the macro models, subjected to cyclic stress loads in the form of tension, flexure and torsion. Moreover, a micromechanical analysis is conducted to investigate the effect of the shape of ellipsoid porosities on the overall response of porous SMA.

Origin of high strength, low modulus superelasticity in nanowire-shape memory alloy composites

An open question is the underlying mechanisms for a recent discovered nanocomposite, which composed of shape memory alloy (SMA) matrix with embedded metallic nanowires (NWs), demonstrating novel mechanical properties, such as large quasi-linear elastic strain, low Young’s modulus and high yield strength. We use finite element simulations to investigate the interplay between the superelasticity of SMA matrix and the elastic-plastic deformation of embedded NWs. Our results show that stress transfer plays a dominated role in determining the quasi-linear behavior of the nanocomposite. The corresponding microstructure evolution indicate that the transfer is due to the coupling between plastic deformation within the NWs and martensitic transformation in the matrix, i.e., the martensitic transformation of the SMA matrix promotes local plastic deformation nearby, and the high plastic strain region of NWs retains considerable martensite in the surrounding SMA matrix, thus facilitating continues martensitic transformation in subsequent loading. Based on these findings, we propose a general criterion for achieving quasi-linear elasticity.

NiTi-Enabled Composite Design for Exceptional Performances

In an effort to further develop shape memory alloys (SMAs) for functional applications, much focus has been given in recent years to design and create innovative forms of SMAs, such as functionally graded SMAs, architecture SMAs, and SMA-based metallic composites. This paper reports on the progress in creating NiTi-based composites of exceptional properties stimulated by the recent discovery of the principle of lattice strain matching between the SMA matrix and superelastic nanoinclusions embedded in the matrix. Based on this principle, different SMA–metal composites have been designed to achieve extraordinary shape memory performances, such as complete pseudoelastic behavior at as low as 77 K and stress plateau as high as 1600 MPa, and exceptional mechanical properties, such as tensile strength as high as 2000 MPa and Young’s modulus as low as 28 GPa. Details are given for a NiTi–W micro-fiber composite prepared by melt infiltration, hot pressing, forging, and cold rolling. The composite contained 63% in volume of W micro-fibers of ~0.6 μm thickness. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction revealed that the NiTi matrix underwent martensite transformation during tensile deformation while the W micro-fiber deformed elastically with a maximum strain of 0.83% in the loading direction, implying a W fiber stress of 3280 MPa. The composite showed a maximum high tensile strength of 2300 MPa.

Achieving Superior Two-Way Actuation by the Stress-Coupling of Nanoribbons and Nanocrystalline Shape Memory Alloy.

Inspired by the driving principle of traditional bias-type two-way actuators, we developed a novel two-way actuation nanocomposite wire in which a massive number of Nb nanoribbons with ultralarge elastic strains are loaded inside a shape memory alloy (SMA) matrix to form a continuous array of nanobias actuation pairs for two-way actuation. The composite exhibits a two-way actuation strain of 3.2% during a thermal cycle and an actuation stress of 934 MPa upon heating, which is about twice as high as that (∼500 MPa) found in reported two-way SMAs. Upon cooling, the composite shows an actuation stress of 134 MPa and a mechanical work output of 1.08 × 10(6) J/m(3), which are about three and five times higher than those of reported two-way SMAs, respectively. It was revealed that the massive number of Nb nanoribbons in the compressive state provides the high actuation stress and high work output upon cooling, and the SMA matrix with high yield strength offers the high actuation stress upon heating. Compared to traditional bias-type two-way actuators, the two-way actuation composite with a small volume and simple construct works well with the miniaturization and simplification of actuators.

Homogenization techniques for the analysis of porous SMA

In this paper the mechanical response of porous Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) is modeled. The porous SMA is considered as a composite medium made of a dense SMA matrix with voids treated as inclusions. The overall response of this very special composite is deduced performing a micromechanical and homogenization analysis. In particular, the incremental Mori---Tanaka averaging scheme is provided; then, the Transformation Field Analysis procedure in its uniform and nonuniform approaches, UTFA and NUTFA respectively, are presented. In particular, the extension of the NUTFA technique proposed by Sepe et al. (Int J Solids Struct 50:725---742, 2013) is presented to investigate the response of porous SMA characterized by closed and open porosity. A detailed comparison between the outcomes provided by the Mori---Tanaka, the UTFA and the proposed NUTFA procedures for porous SMA is presented, through numerical examples for two- and three-dimensional problems. In particular, several values of porosity and different loading conditions, inducing pseudoelastic effect in the SMA matrix, are investigated. The predictions assessed by the Mori---Tanaka, the UTFA and the NUTFA techniques are compared with the results obtained by nonlinear finite element analyses. A comparison with experimental data available in literature is also presented.

Multiple plastic deformation mechanisms of NiTi shape memory alloy based on local canning compression at various temperatures

A Ni-rich NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA), which was in its austenitic state at ambient temperature, was subjected to plastic deformation by means of local canning compression at various temperatures ranging from room temperature to 800 °C. Depending on temperatures, NiTi SMA exhibited multiple plastic deformation mechanisms, such as dislocation slip, deformation twinning, grain boundary slide, grain rotation, dislocation climb and grain boundary migration. Amorphization, dynamic recovery and dynamic recrystallization of NiTi SMA were also observed at various temperatures. Mechanism of localized amorphization, in particular, was investigated based on dislocation slip and deformation twinning. Statistically stored dislocation (SSD) and geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) were found to play an important role in the amorphization of the current NiTi SMA. There appeared a critical dislocation density below which NiTi SMA was unable to amorphize. Accordingly, at a fixed deformation strain, there should be a critical temperature above which amorphous phase would not occur in the NiTi SMA matrix. Furthermore, when NiTi SMA experienced plastic deformation at the critical temperature, amorphization and crystallization would occur simultaneously and compete with each other.

Deformation behavior of Nb nanowires in TiNiCu shape memory alloy matrix

An in-situ nanowire Nb/TiNiCu composite is fabricated based on the concept of strain under-matching between a phase transforming matrix and high strength nanomaterials. The deformation behavior of the Nb nanowire was investigated by means of in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction when the TiNiCu matrix underwent different deformation modes. The maximum lattice strain of the Nb nanowires was about 5% when the matrix deformed via martensitic transformation or 1% when deforming plastically by dislocation slip. The Nb nanowires showed a lattice strain of 3.5% when the matrix deformed in the mixed mode of plastic deformation and martensitic transformation, which means that the occurrence of plastic deformation does not impede load transfer from the matrix to the nanowires.

Micromechanical analysis of porous SMA

The present paper deals with computational micromechanical analyses of porous shape memory alloy (SMA). Porous SMAs are considered composite materials made of a dense SMA matrix including voids. A three-dimensional constitutive law is presented for the dense SMA able to reproduce the pseudo-elastic as well as the shape memory effects and, moreover, to account for the different elastic properties of the austenite and martensite phases. Furthermore, a numerical procedure is developed and the overall behavior of the porous SMA is recovered studying a representative volume element. Comparisons between the numerical results, recovered using the proposed modeling, and experimental data available in the literature are presented. The case of closed and open porosity is investigated. Parametric studies have been conducted in order to investigate the influence of the porosity, the shape and orientation of the pores on the overall mechanical response and, mainly, on the energy absorption dissipation capability.

Research on Shape Memory Effect and Corrosion Resistance of the As-Cast Fe-Mn-Si Based Alloy

Shape memory effect and corrosion resistance of the as-cast Fe-Mn-Si based alloy were studied in this paper. The results showed that the shape memory effect of alloy would decline with the specimen size increasing. Due to the ε martensites distributed in a single direction mostly and uniformly were not prone to the phenomenon of cross-crossing at the small size interface. The corrosion resistance of the as-cast decreased as the concentration of medium increasing. Because of the Cl-, which was easily absorbed by the substrate in the HCl solution, can penetrate the surface of the substrate film and generate the soluble compound, which leads the corrosion resistance performance poorer than that in NaOH solution. Under high temperature and pressure, the average corrosion rate of the Fe-Mn-Si-based shape memory alloy was significantly lower than that of the 304 stainless steel, and its corrosion rate changed little. Because the amount of harmful impurity elements and the carbon content is low in the shape memory alloy matrix, and the film formed on the surface of the alloy is more stable, denser so as to an unobvious pitting behavior.

Morphology evolution and crystallographic feature of Nb nanowire in an in-situ NiTi-Nb nanocomposite

In–situ NiTi shape memory alloy–Nb nanowire nanocomposite was revealed to exhibit exceptional mechanical properties. The properties of high strength and ultra-large elastic strains are closely related with the high performance of in situ-formed Nb nanowire reinforcements. In this study, the morphology evolution and crystallographic feature of Nb nanowires in NiTi shape memory alloy matrix during cold drawing were investigated by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It is revealed that, as a result of the severe work hardening and amorphization of NiTi matrix, the cold work reduction of nanowire reinforcements can exceed that of the entire composite. The irregular-shaped Nb nanowires are reshaped to straight and smooth nanowires during cold drawing process. By means of TEM nanobeam diffraction, it is revealed that the in situ-formed Nb nanowire in such top-down processed NiTi–Nb composite keeps single crystalline over 1,000 nm at length direction. As a consequence, the aspect ratio of nanowire reinforcements in NiTi matrix exceeds 25:1.

Response of porous SMA: a micromechanical study

Lately porous shape memory alloys (SMA) have attracted great interest as low weight materials characterized by high energy dissipation capability. In the present contribution a micromechanical study of porous SMA is proposed, introducing the simplifying hypothesis of periodic distribution of voids. The mechanical response of the heterogeneous porous medium is derived by performing nonlinear finite element micromechanical analyses considering a typical repetitive unit cell made of a circular hole in a dense SMA matrix and prescribing suitable periodicity and continuity conditions. The constitutive behavior and the dissipation energy capability of the porous Nitinol are examined for several porosity levels. Numerical applications are performed in order to test the ability of the proposed procedure to well capture the overall behavior and the key features of the special heterogeneous material.