Thermodynamics of Nitinol

A self‐consistent macroscopic thermodynamics is developed for the calculation of work, heat, and dissipation for thermodynamic paths of the shape memory alloy, Nitinol. The thermodynamic system analyzed is a Nitinol helix for which extensive force–length–temperature (FLT) equation of state measurements have been made. The Nitinol system exhibits significant hysteresis and is determined to be a nonequilibrium thermostatic system. A set of equations of state are provided which correlate all reversible and irreversible Nitinol thermodynamic paths to both the set of helix (FLT) thermodynamic state variables and to new ‘‘history’’ state variables. It is shown that these equations predict observed cyclic behaviors not previously interpreted. In the absence of calorimetric measurements for the Nitinol helix system, a physical assumption is made that reversible paths are of constant phase. This assumption is used to estimate the reversible path thermal and mechanical heat capacities for the Nitinol system. With t...