Quasi-static characterisation of trained pseudoelastic shape memory alloy wire subjected to cyclic loading: transformation kinetics

A kinetic law for constitutive modelling of shape memory alloys is proposed in order to increase model predictability in comparison with experimental data. The proposed law is based on cubic Bézier curves and contains curvature controlling parameters. The kinetic law and also the Duhem–Madelung sub-loop model are implemented in a state-of-the-art constitutive model based on the framework by Lagoudas and coworkers.

The original and modified models are fitted to consistent experimental results from mechanical cyclic loading under isothermal conditions (0–800 MPa, 30–70 °C) of a trained pseudoelastic shape memory alloy wire. Quantitative measures of goodness of fit show that both models perform well, but use of the modified model results in 31% reduction of the residual standard deviation compared with the original model (21.4 versus 14.8 MPa) in model calibration and 23% in model validation.

The proposed kinetic law therefore ensures higher predictability.