Abstract:
Unique functional thermomechanical responses shape memory alloys (SMA) already utilized in numerous engineering applications derive from diffusionless martenstic transformations by which these materials respond to external stress and temperature variations. In the first part of the talk, martensitic transformations and related functional properties of SMAs will be briefly introduced. In the second part, results achieved in the three research areas currently followed in the SMA group will be discussed: i) temperature dependence of elastic properties of SMAs, ii) mathematical modelling of interfacial microstructures in SMAs, iii) in-situ experimental studies and crystalloghraphic modelling of functional responses of SMA polycrystals.