A micromechanics-based constitutive model for nanocrystalline shape memory alloys incorporating grain size effects

A micromechanics-based model is developed to capture the grain-size dependent superelasticity of nanocrystalline shape memory alloys (SMAs). Grain-size effects are incorporated in the proposed model through definition of dissipative length scale and energetic length scale parameters. In this paper, nanocrystalline SMAs are considered as two-phase composites consisting of the grain-core phase and the grain-boundary phase. Based on the Gibbs free energy including the spatial gradient of the martensite volume fraction, a new transformation function determining the evolution law for transformation strain is derived. Using micromechanical averaging techniques, the grain-size-dependent superelastic behavior of nanocrystalline SMAs can be described. The internal length scales are calibrated using experimental results from published literature. In addition, model validation is performed by comparing the model predictions with the corresponding experimental data on nanostructured NiTi polycrystalline SMA. Finally, effects of the internal length scales on the critical stresses for forward and reverse transformations, the hysteresis loop area (transformation dissipation energy), and the strain hardening are investigated.