Numerical Investigation of the Macroscopic Mechanical Behavior of NiTi-Hybrid Composites Subjected to Static Load–Unload–Reload Path

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) are a type of shape memory materials that recover large deformation and return to their primary shape by rising temperature. In the current research, the effect of embedding SMA wires on the macroscopic mechanical behavior of glass–epoxy composites is investigated through finite element simulations. A perfect interface between SMA wires and the host composite is assumed. Effects of various parameters such as SMA wires volume fraction, SMA wires pre-strain and temperature are investigated during loading–unloading and reloading steps by employing ANSYS software. In order to quantify the extent of induced compressive stress in the host composite and residual tensile stress in the SMA wires, a theoretical approach is presented. Finally, it was shown that smart structures fabricated using composite layers and pre-strained SMA wires exhibited overall stiffness reduction at both ambient and elevated temperatures which were increased by adding SMA volume fraction. Also, the induced compressive stress on the host composite was increased remarkably using 4% pre-strained SMA wires at elevated temperature. Results obtained by FE simulations were in good correlation with the rule of mixture predictions and available experimental data in the literature.     

Study of Thermal Scanning Rates on Transformations of Ti-19Nb-9Zr (at.%) by Means of Differential Scanning Calorimetry Analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermal analysis is a well-accepted technique used to measure the transformation temperatures of shape memory alloy and its thermoelastic transformation energies. In this study, both forward and reverse transformation temperatures of a nickel-free Ti-19Nb-9Zr (at.%) SMA were investigated using DSC technique with different cooling and heating scanning rates in a range of 10 to 100 °C/min. The results showed that the transformation temperature intervals vary substantially with respect to the thermal scanning rates. It is found that the martensitic start (M _s) temperature decreases with decreasing the cooling rates. The optimal scanning rate was found to be 40 °C/min for obtaining the maximum thermoelastic transformation energies stored between the forward and the reverse martensitic transformations. It is believed that the thermoelastic transformation energy increases with the increase in the volume fraction of martensite. Based on these measurements, these thermoelastic transformation energies between the forward and the reverse martensitic transformations were estimated to be ~21 and ~27 J/g, respectively. The appropriate selection of scanning rate for SMA analysis will be discussed.     

Stability in Phase Transformation After Multiple Steps of Marforming in Ti-Rich Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy

Nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) alloys are the most attractive among shape memory alloys (SMA) due to their good functionality properties coupled with high strength and ductility. The transformation temperatures in Ti-rich Ni-Ti SMA can be altered by subjecting them to suitable thermal and/or mechanical treatments to obtain martensitic transformation in one or more steps above 0 °C. The goal of the present work is to investigate the stability of phase transformation characteristics, such as, type of sequence (one, two, and multiple steps) and transformation temperatures in Ti-Rich Ni-Ti SMA (Ni-51 at.%Ti), after being subjected to an initial heat treatment at 500 °C for 30 min in air followed by multiple steps of marforming (cold rolling, 30% thickness reduction) intercalated with heat treatments at 500 °C for 30 min in air and a final heat treatment at four different temperatures (400, 450, 500, and 600 °C) for 30 min in air atmosphere. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and electrical resistivity (ER) were used to identify the phase transformation sequences and the stability of transformation temperatures during initial 10 thermal cycles for each sample with distinct thermo-mechanical treatment.     

Transformational behaviour of constrained shape memory alloys

The transformational behaviour of shape memory alloy (SMA) wires embedded into a fibre reinforced epoxy composite was investigated and is discussed in this article. The effects on the transformational temperatures, and heats of the embedded SMA wires and the generation of recovery stresses within the composites on heating are shown to be related to the reversible martensitic transformation of the SMA wires. This article details the effects of the constraining matrix on the transformations of self-accommodating and preferentially oriented martensite. It was found that there is little change in the transformation temperatures of the constrained SMA wires with increasing pre-strain, but that the measurable transformation heats decrease significantly with increasing pre-strain. It is concluded that the transformation of self-accommodating martensite is nearly not affected by the constrained matrix, whereas the transformation of the preferentially oriented martensite is suppressed.     

Embedding of Superelastic SMA Wires into Composite Structures: Evaluation of Impact Properties

Shape memory alloy (SMA) represents the most versatile way to realize smart materials with sensing, controlling, and actuating functions. Due to their unique mechanical and thermodynamic properties and to the possibility to obtain SMA wires with very small diameters, they are used as smart components embedded into the conventional resins or composites, obtaining active abilities, tunable properties, self-healing properties, and damping capacity. Moreover, superelastic SMAs are used to increase the impact resistance properties of composite materials. In this study, the influence of the integration of thin superelastic wires to suppress propagating damage of composite structures has been investigated. Superelastic SMAs have very high strain to failure and recoverable elastic strain, due to a stress-induced martensitic phase transition creating a plateau region in the stress-strain curve. NiTi superelastic wires (A _f = ?15 °C fully annealed) of 0.10 mm in diameter have been produced and characterized by SAES Getters. The straight annealed wire shows the typical flag stress-strain behavior. The measured loading plateau is about 450 MPa at ambient temperature with a recoverable elastic strain of more than 6%. For these reasons superelastic SMA fibers can absorb much more strain energy than other fibers before their failure, partly with a constant stress level. In this paper, the improvement of composite laminates impact properties by embedding SMA wires is evaluated and indications for design and manufacturing of SMA composites with high-impact properties are also given.     

Functional Characterization of a Novel Shape Memory Alloy

A novel shape memory alloy (SMA) has been developed as an alternative to currently available alloys. This alloy, commercially known by its proprietary brand SMARQ, shows a higher working range of temperatures with respect to the SMA materials used until now in actuators, limited to environment temperatures below 90 °C. SMARQ is a high temperature SMA (HTSMA) based on a fully European material technology and production processes, which allows the manufacture of high quality products, with tuneable transformation temperatures up to 200 °C. Both, material and production processes have been evaluated for its use in space applications. A full characterization test campaign has been completed in order to obtain the material properties and check its suitability to be used as active material in space actuators. In order to perform the functional characterization of the material, it has been considered as the key element of a basic SMA actuator, consisting in the SMA wire and the mechanical and electrical interfaces. The functional tests presented in this work have been focused on the actuator behavior when heated by means of an electrical current. Alloy composition has been adjusted in order to match a transition temperature (As) of +145 °C, which satisfies the application requirements of operating temperatures in the range of ?70 and +125 °C. Details of the tests and results of the characterization test campaign, focused in the material unique properties for their use in actuators, will be presented in this work. Some application examples in the field of space mechanisms and actuators, currently under development, will be summarized as part of this work, demonstrating the technology suitability as active material for space actuators.     

Effect of heat treatment on the transformation behavior and temperature memory effect in TiNiCu wires

The effect of heat treatment on the phase transformation behavior of TiNiCu shape memory alloy wires and the temperature memory effect in this alloy were investigated by the resistance method. These results showed that with increasing annealing temperature and annealing time, the phase transformation temperatures of TiNiCu wires were shifted to higher temperatures in the heating and cooling process. It was also found that incomplete thermal cycles, upon heating the TiNiCu wires, which were arrested at a temperature between the start and finish tem-peratures of the reverse martensite transformation, could induce a kinetic stop in the next complete thermal cycle. The kinetic stop tempera-ture was closely related to the previous arrested temperature. This phenomenon was defined as the temperature memory effect. The result of this study was consistent with the previous report on the phenomenon obtained using the differential scanning calorimetry method, indicating that temperature memory effect was a common phenomenon in shape memory alloys.     

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Smart Laminates with Embedded SMA Actuators—Part I: Embedding Techniques and Interface Analysis

Up to now one of the main limits for a large use of shape memory alloys (SMA)-based smart composite structures in the aerospace industry is the lack of useful numerical tools for design. Moreover, technological aspects still need a more detailed investigation. This paper shows how to overcome issues regarding embedding of NiTiNOL wires in carbon fibre/epoxy laminates. A crucial aspect of those structures is related to the load transfer capabilities between the SMA actuators and the host material during their activation. Embedding techniques developed for taking into account problems like thermal and electrical compatibility between actuators and host material and passive/active invasivity are reported in this paper. Simple smart laminates with several actuators were manufactured, tested, and deeply analyzed. In order to characterize the interface in the real operative conditions, pull-out tests were conducted on NiTiNOL wires embedded in composite fiber laminates. The results were compared to standard experiments on wires embedded in pure epoxy resin blocks.     

Investigation of the Self-Healing Behavior of Sn-Bi Metal Matrix Composite Reinforced with NiTi Shape Memory Alloy Strips Under Flexural Loading

Utilizing intelligent materials such as shape memory alloys as reinforcement in metal matrix composites is a novel method to mimic self-healing behavior. In this study, the bending behavior of a self-healing metal matrix composite made from Sn-13 wt.% Bi alloy as matrix and NiTi shape memory alloy (SMA) strips as reinforcement is investigated. Specimens were fabricated in different reinforcement vol.% (0.78, 1.55, 2.33) and in various pre-strains (0, 2, 6%) and were healed at three healing temperatures (170°C, 180°C, 190°C). Results showed that shape recovery was accomplished in all the specimens, but not all of them were able to withstand second loading after healing. Only specimens with 2.33 vol.% of SMA strips, 1.55 vol.% of SMA, and 6% pre-strain could endure bending force after healing, and they gained 35.31–51.83% of bending force self-healing efficiency.     

In situ evaluation of the transformation behaviour of NiTi-based high temperature shape memory alloys

Fine grained polycrystalline NiTi shape memory alloys containing 15 at.% Hf and Zr and zero or 3 at.% Cu fabricated by ingot metallurgy were investigated using in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction in order to examine the viability of producing stable and affordable high temperature shape memory alloys. The alloys produced had a high thermal hysteresis, in excess of 70 °C but A_f temperatures of over 250 °C were obtained for Ni₅₀Ti₃₅Hf₁₅. 3 at.% Cu additions did not significantly reduce the per-cycle degradation of transformation temperatures but did reduce the transformation temperatures. The evolution of the lattice parameters during the first five thermal cycles was observed. Negative thermal expansion was found in the b_B19′ cell direction in all the alloys examined and significant deviations in the lattice parameters in the region of transformation were found. A per-cycle evolution in the end-point B19′ lattice parameters was observed, but no such evolution was found for the B2 phase, which is rationalised by appealing to the increase in population of interface dislocations.     

Effect of Current Pulses on Fatigue of Thin NiTi Wires for Shape Memory Actuators

Shape memory alloys (SMA) are used in many technological applications, thanks to their unique properties: superelasticity and shape memory (SM) effect. Many efforts have been made to improve performance of SMA wires to utilize them as thermal actuators also for many thousands of cycles. Near-equiatomic nickel-titanium compound is the most used materials for SM actuators because of its high recoverable values of strain and good cycling stability, if compared to the other known SMA. In this study, the functional properties of NiTi thin wires (80 μm) thermally cycled under a constant load (200 MPa) were investigated. In particular, the effect of two heating conditions, carried out by a step and a ramp current pulses, on functional fatigue of SMA has been studied. By means of an experimental apparatus, thermomechanical cycling, thermal loop under constant load and actuation time (AT) tests were carried out to investigate the alteration and the trend of recovered strain, irreversible strain, characteristic temperatures, and ATs of the thin SM wires.     

高温合金差示扫描量热分析(DSC)的影响因素研究III：合金状态和升降温速率

摘 要：对固溶强化型镍基高温合金625进行升、降温差示扫描量热分析（DSC）试验,研究了同一合金不同状态（粉末态、粉末+热等静压态和铸态）以及升/降温速率（5-10℃/min）对相变温度的影响。采用场发射扫描电镜（FESEM）、电子探针（EPMA）对不同状态625合金的微观组织和元素分布进行表征。结果表明：（1）铸态比粉末态合金的枝晶间距大2个数量级,而热等静压态合金为无枝晶偏析的细等轴晶结构。（2）升、降温速率对DSC曲线中加热时基体开始熔化（等于固溶强化型合金的初熔温度）和冷却时开始凝固温度（偏离基线的拐点）无影响,但对合金加热熔化结束、冷却时大量凝固析出温度（峰位）和终凝温度（拐点）有明显影响。采用加热、冷却曲线相应相变温度平均值的方法可减少DSC试验和样品条件的影响,获得相对固定且更具可比性的合金相变温度。（3）合金状态对初熔温度和DSC升温曲线固相线温度附近的圆弧段有明显影响。根据DSC加热曲线固相线温度附近的圆弧大小可以判断合金的偏析倾向,弱偏析倾向的粉末态和热等静压态PM625合金DSC加热曲线固相线附近区域拐点尖锐,表现为合金开始熔化温度（偏离基线的拐点）与名义固相线温度（切线交点）差异很小,分别仅为5℃和6℃;偏析倾向较大的铸态IN625合金的DSC加热曲线中固相线温度附近区域为较大圆弧,开始熔化温度与名义固相线温度差异可达52℃。铸态625合金的初熔温度比热等静压态和粉末态分别低45℃和40℃,在实际热处理和热等静压等热工艺参数选择时应注意圆弧段较大的合金降低初熔温度的影响。在所有DSC冷却曲线中,由于完全熔化重新凝固消除了合金原始显微组织特征,不同状态625合金固相线温度区域附近曲线形态相似,均为较大的圆弧。     

The Mechanical and Thermal Behaviors of Heat-Treated Ni-Rich NiTi Orthodontic Archwires

The near equiatomic nickel-titanium alloy is an outstanding intermetallic compound exhibiting distinctive properties associated with characteristic thermal and stress-induced martensitic transformations. The process of producing orthodontic wires has been modified to obtain the optimal shape memory behaviors. Phase transformation temperatures and load-deflection characteristics of this binary alloy are very significant variables in the performance of this alloy and can be manipulated by different thermomechanical treatments via inducing precipitation or dislocation networks in the matrix. In this study, one brand of commercial heat-activated nickel-titanium archwire (3 M Unitek) was selected and solution treated. Then, the wires annealed at 400 °C for 10, 30, and 60 min. Thermal transformation temperatures were determined using differential scanning calorimeter. It was showed that these temperatures increased with increasing the time of heat treatment and multistage transformation occurred as the result of inhomogeneities. In order to evaluate mechanical parameters of heat-treated archwires, they were placed on an arch-form fixture simulating maxillary dentition and load-deflection curves were obtained by three-point bending test at 37 °C. The results compared to as-received archwires and the best superelasticity was observed after 30 min aging.     

Shape memory properties and oxidation behaviour of a rapidly liquid quenched Cu–Sn alloy

Rapidly liquid quenched Cu–Sn ribbons were produced and their shape memory properties and oxidation behaviour investigated using thermal analysis, metallography and X-ray diffraction methods. During the heating regime from −70°C to room temperature in a DSC instrument, martensite → austenite transformation was performed and the A_s and A_f temperatures were determined as −16.4°C and −8.4°C respectively. The oxidation behaviour was also determined using TGA. The total oxidation percentages decreased with increasing heating rate, whereas the oxidation rate increased with the heating rate during the heating and cooling times. The shape memory behaviour of the ribbon samples were also seen after bending in liquid nitrogen and reheating to room temperature.     

Effect of smart stiffening procedure on low-velocity impact response of smart structures

The paper presents the response of smart hybrid composite plate subjected to low-velocity impact. The low-velocity impact response of the composite plate embedded with shape memory alloy (SMA) wires is investigated. The SMA wires are embedded within the layers of the composite laminate. The first-order shear deformation theory as well as the Fourier series method is utilized to solve the dynamic governing equations of the hybrid composite plate analytically. The interaction between the impactor and the plate is modeled with the help of two degrees-of-freedom system, consisting of springs-masses. The Choi's linearized Hertzian contact model is used in the impact analysis of the laminated hybrid composite plate. The stiffness of the composite structures classified into two new groups. Interactive and non-interactive effects of these stiffnesses are studied too. In addition, a procedure named smart stiffening procedure (SSP) was used to improve the impact resistance of the composite structures. It was seen that by using of the SSP, the mechanical characteristics of the structure could be improved the most.     

Microstructure and properties of Nb-Mo-Zr based refractory alloys

Microstructure and mechanical properties of five Nb alloys containing 8 to 17 at.% Mo, 8 or 35 at.% Zr, up to 7 at.% Ti, up to 2 at.% Al and up to 2 at.% Cr are reported. These alloys have been developed to replace heavy, expensive and difficult to process commercial Nb alloys, such as C-3009, for use at temperatures up to 1600 °C. The density of the alloys is in the range from 7.6 to 8.6 g/cm³. The alloys have a BCC matrix phase, and they also contain small amounts of secondary phases, which are rich in Zr and have BCC, FCC, hexagonal or monoclinic crystal structures depending on the concentration of other alloying elements, including oxygen and nitrogen. In the temperature range from 25 °C to 1600 °C, the alloys with a smaller amount of Zr are ductile and have higher specific strength than C-3009. The alloy containing 35 at.% Zr is stronger, but less ductile, than other alloys at temperatures up to 600 °C; however, it loses the strength rapidly at higher temperatures and becomes softer than other alloys at T > 1000 °C. The possible strengthening mechanisms responsible for the observed temperature dependence of the yield stress of the alloys are also discussed.     

Functionally-graded shape memory alloy by diffusion annealing of palladium-coated NiTi plates

Diffusion annealing of palladium-coated Ti-Ni plates was performed at temperatures ranging from 900 °C to 1,000 °C, to accomplish a compositional gradient in Ti-rich, Ti-Ni shape memory alloys. The aim of this study was to increase the transformation temperatures and transformation temperature intervals. Palladium diffusion profiles were measured by energy dispersive spectroscopy, and the corresponding approximate diffusion coefficients of the annealed specimens were calculated. The Gaussian solution of Fick’s second law for the one-dimensional lattice diffusion of a tracer was used. The transformation behavior studies were performed by differential scanning calorimetry. It was depicted that annealed specimens show longer transformation intervals compared to the bare alloy. In addition, annealed specimens showed improved shape memory properties that were attributed to the lower amount of Ti₂Ni precipitates in the diffusion layer. The shape memory behaviour of the samples was detected using micro-indentation at room temperature, followed by heating them above the austenite formation temperature to calculate the shape recovery ratio.     

Mechanical properties of Al–Si–Cu alloys produced by the continuous casting process with heating process

The mechanical properties of aluminium alloys produced by the continuous cast process and heating process (heat-cast-sample) were investigated, where the aluminium alloys are heated continuously to high temperatures for 1 h immediately following heated mould continuous casting (HMC) and sand gravity casting (SGC). The material strength and ductility of the aluminium alloys were irregularly altered depending on the heating temperature. The mechanical properties decreased when the heating temperature increased to 400 °C and were then recovered when the temperature increased to 520 °C. However, these properties decreased again when heated to more than 540 °C. The mechanical properties of the HMC-heat-cast-sample showed overall higher than those for the SGC-sample. In addition to high tensile strength, high ductility was obtained for the HMC-520 °C samples compared with those for the as-cast-sample. Such changes were found to be directly attributable to the different severity of precipitate; moreover the crystal orientation was unchanged even after the heating process.     

Allotropic phase transformation and high-temperature tensile deformation behaviour of powder metallurgy Ti-5553 alloy

Ti-5Al-5V-5Mo-3Cr metastable beta titanium alloy was prepared by rapid thermomechanical powder consolidation approach from blended elemental powder mixture. Allotropic phase transformation and high-temperature tensile behaviour of the consolidated powder metallurgy Ti-5553 alloy were investigated in this work. The studied alloy has a high β phase transformation temperature of 975 °C±5 °C, which is higher than other conventional ingot metallurgy Ti-5553 alloys. The β grains in the microstructure of the alloy are coarsened significantly with increasing the heating temperature from 890 °C to 1050 °C, however, the grain coarsening tendency is mitigated when the heat treatment temperature reach to the range of 1080 °C–1100 °C. The high-temperature tensile mechanical properties of the alloy are sensitive to both the deformation temperature and strain rate, and superplastic deformation of the alloy was achieved at the condition of 850 °C/0.001 s⁻¹ with the tensile elongation of 103.5%. The microstructural evolution characteristics and the fracture mechanisms of the alloy are varied with changing the deformation variables, which are revealed by the microstructure observation of the fractured specimens from different sampling positions.     

Cfiber/SiCfiller/Si–B–C–Nmatrix composites with extremely high thermal stability

Precursor-derived Si–B–C–N ceramics are well known for their outstanding thermal stability up to 2000 °C. However, if they are integrated with long ceramic fiber fabrics, the thermal stability of the respective fiber–matrix composites decreases, and the associated thermomechanical properties worsen. A method of improving the thermal stability of a fiber-reinforced Si–B–C–N-based composite up to 1700 °C by the application of SiC filler particulates is reported. The mass loss of such composites is very low even after heating to 2100 °C. Remarkably, a pre-heat treatment of the SiC filler is essential in order to achieve the thermal stability of the ceramic matrix composites by removing surface SiO₂. The composite described here retained 96% of its room-temperature strength and possessed non-brittle fracture behavior after heating at 1700 °C for 10 h in Ar. The flexural creep deformation of the composite at 1400 °C was only 0.25% after 60 h under 100 MPa pressure.