Pseudoelastic behaviour of shape memory alloy beams under pure bending: experiments and modelling

The moment–curvature hysteresis loops (for single cycle) under pure bending were experimentally determined for Cu–Al–Be single crystal, Ni–Ti and Cu–Zn–Al polycrystal samples using specially designed device. The comparison with the theoretical loops is presented for linear strain-hardening and ideal pseudoelasticity models discussed in (Int. J. Mech. Sci. 2001;43:1339). All theoretical constants were determined using simple-tension data and thermodynamical identities. The tensile–compression dissymmetry effect is accounted for and non-linear differential equation describing the motion of neutral plane is derived for beams with arbitrary symmetric cross-section. The evidence of dissymmetry effect in Cu–Al–Zn is provided by application of metallographical and mechanical techniques. But the experiments and modelling have shown that the tension/compression asymmetry has in fact little influence on the moment–curvature responses on SMA beams.