Preliminary Investigations of a High Temperature Cu-13.3%Al-4%Ni Shape Memory Alloy Single Crystal

Preliminary investigations on the constitutive response of a Cu-13.3%Al-4%Ni (wt%) shape memory alloy single crystal with stress-free transformation temperatures around 100 to 150°C are reported. Room temperature stress cycling tests were carried out at very low deformation rates. Reproducible stress/strain curves of up to 9% strain due to detwinning (martensitematensite phase transformations) with no plastic deformation were obtained. The data also indicated that a period of stress cycling is required to stabilize the material before reproducible stress-strain curves are obtained due to martensite reorientation.