A Three-Phase Constitutive Model and Experimental Study for TiNiNb Shape Memory Alloys

A three-phase constitutive model for TiNiNb shape memory alloys (SMAs) is proposed based on the fact that TiNiNb SMAs are dynamically composed of austenite, martensite and -Nb phases. In the considered ranges of stress and temperature, the behaviors of austenite, martensite and -Nb phases are assumed to be elastoplastic, and the behavior of an SMA is regarded as the dynamic combination of the individual behavior of each phase. Then a macroscopic constitutive description for TiNiNb SMAs is obtained by the conventional theory of plasticity, the theory of mixture, the theory of inclusion, and the description of phase transition by Tanaka. The method for determination of the material parameters is given. This constitutive model can describe the main characteristics of SMAs, such as ferrcelasticity, pseudoelasticity and shape memory effect.