Superelastic Deformation Behaviors Based on Phase Transformation Bands in TiNi Shape Memory Alloy

Properties and characteristics of superelastic deformation behavior based on Luders-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 8 K, 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.