AutoMat: automatic differentiation for generalized standard materials on GPUs

We propose a universal method for the evaluation of generalized standard materials that greatly simplifies the material law implementation process. By means of automatic differentiation and a numerical integration scheme, AutoMat reduces the implementation effort to two potential functions. By moving AutoMat to the GPU, we close the performance gap to conventional evaluation routines and demonstrate in detail that the expression level reverse mode of automatic differentiation as well as its extension to second order derivatives can be applied inside CUDA kernels. We underline the effectiveness and the applicability of AutoMat by integrating it into the FFT-based homogenization scheme of Moulinec and Suquet and discuss the benefits of using AutoMat with respect to runtime and solution accuracy for an elasto-viscoplastic example.

A Phenomenological Model for Shape Memory Alloys With Uniformly Distributed Porosity

A phenomenological model is proposed for shape memory alloys considering the presence of uniformly distributed voids. The model is developed within a modified generalized standard materials framework, which considers the presence of constraints on the state variables and ensures thermodynamic consistency. Within this framework, a free energy density is first proposed for the porous material, wherein the influence of porosity is accounted for by means of scalar state variables accounting for damage and inelastic dilatation. By choosing key thermodynamic forces, derived from the expression of the energy, as sub-gradients of a pseud-potential of dissipation, loading functions are derived that govern phase transformation and martensite detwinning. Flow rules are also proposed for damage and inelastic dilatation in a way that ensures positive dissipation. The model is discretized and the integration of the time-discrete formulation is carried out using an implicit formulation, whereby a return mapping algorithm is implemented to calculate increments of dissipative variables including inelastic strains. Comparison with data from the literature is finally presented.

Continuum thermomechanics of nonlinear micromorphic, strain and stress gradient media

A comprehensive constitutive theory for the thermo-mechanical behaviour of generalized continua is established within the framework of continuum thermodynamics of irreversible processes. It represents an extension of the class of generalized standard materials to higher order and higher grade continuum theories. It reconciles most existing frameworks and proposes some new extensions for micromorphic and strain gradient media. The special case of strain gradient plasticity is also included as a contribution to the current debate on the consideration of energetic and dissipative mechanisms. Finally, the stress gradient continuum theory emerges as a new research field for which an elastic-viscoplastic theory at finite deformations is provided for the first time. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fundamental aspects of nonequilibrium thermodynamics’.

A Model for Iron-Based Shape Memory Alloys Considering Variable Elastic Stiffness and Coupling Between Plasticity and Phase Transformation

The paper presents a new constitutive model for iron-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMAs) adapted from the ZM model initially proposed for Nitinol by Zaki and Moumni [JMPS2007]. The model introduces nonlinear hardening terms to account for interactions between the grains, martensite variants and slip systems that may exist within a volume element of the material. The expressions used for the hardening terms are similar to those in (Khalil et al. [JIMSS2012]). The equations of the model are derived from the expression of a Helmholtz free energy potential, with complementary loading conditions obtained within the framework of generalized standard materials with internal constraints. A detailed derivation of the implicit algorithm used for the integration of the model is provided and used for numerical simulations that are shown to agree with experimental data.

Residual Stresses in a Ceramic-Metal Composite

The work of this study concerns the fine modelling of the thermomechanical and metallurgical behavior of interface ceramic-metal in order to determine the residual mechanical state of the structures during brazing process. For these cases, difficulties mainly arise in the modelling of the solid-solid phase transformations as well as in the modelling of the mechanical behavior of the multiphasic material. Within an original theoretical framework - generalized standard materials with internal constraints – we proposed models for the behavior of multiphasic material. The design of joints in engineering structures and the optimisation of the industrial brazing process require determining and analysing such a phenomenon. In this way, the present work aims at predicting the thermally induced stresses (localisation and level) through numerical simulations and then, at defining the main parameters which influence their development

Cyclic behavior and energy approach of the fatigue of shape memory alloys

This paper presents an energy-based low-cycle fatigue criterion that can be used in analyzing and designing structures made from shape memory alloys (SMAs) subjected to cyclic loading. Experimentally, a response similar to plastic shakedown is observed: during the first cycles the stress-strain curve shows a hysteresis loop which evolves during the first few cycles before stabilizing. By adopting an analogy with plastic fatigue, it is shown that the dissipated energy of the stabilized cycle is a relevant parameter for estimating the number of cycles to failure of such materials. Following these observations, we provide an application of the cyclic model, previously developed by the authors within the framework of generalized standard materials with internal constraints [16], in order to evaluate such parameter. Numerical simulations are presented along with a validation against experimental data in case of cyclic superelasticity.