On phase transformation models for thermo-mechanically coupled response of Nitinol

Fully coupled thermomechanical models for Nitinol at the grain level are developed in this work to capture the inter-dependence between deformation and temperature under non-isothermal conditions. The martensite transformation equations are solved using a novel algorithm which imposes all relevant constraints on the volume fractions. The numerical implementation of the resulting models within the finite element method is effected by the monolithic solution of the momentum and energy equations. Validation of the models is achieved by means of thin-tube experiments at different strain rates. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.