Effect of stress redistribution during thermal actuation of shape memory alloys in notched cylindrical bars

Abstract

Shape memory alloys present a unique ability to undergo a solid-to-solid, diffusionless, reversible phase transformation. The forward phase transformation is commonly associated with transforming from the austenitic phase to the martensitic phase, while the reverse transformation is defined by going from the martensitic phase to the austenitic phase. In thermal actuation loading paths, forward transformation is generally associated with cooling, while reverse transformation is commonly associated with heating. In this article, however, it is shown that reverse transformation may occur during cooling of notched cylindrical shape memory alloy bars. The reversal in phase transformation is associated with the redistribution of stress in the shape memory alloy due to the phase transformation.