Three-Dimensional Constitutive Model Considering Transformation-Induced Damage and Resulting Fatigue Failure in Shape Memory Alloys

Abstract

In this work, a constitutive model is developed that describe the behavior of shape memory alloys undergoing a large number of cycles, developing internal damage, and eventually failing. Physical mechanisms associated with martensitic phase transformation occurring during cyclic loadings such as transformation strain generation and recovery, transformation-induced plasticity, and fatigue damage are all taken into account within a thermo-dynamically consistent framework. Fatigue damage is described utilizing a continuum theory of damage. The damage growth rate has been formulated as a function of both the stress state and also the magnitude of the transformation strain, while the complete or partial nature of the transformation cycles is also considered as per experimental observations. Simulation results from the model developed are compared to uniaxial actuation fatigue tests at different stress levels. It is shown that both lifetime and the evolution irrecoverable strain can be accurately simulated.