Micromechanicalmodeling of shape memory alloy composites

This chapter reviews several approaches for the mathematical modeling of shape memory alloys to be embedded as constituents (e.g. fibers) thus forming shape memory alloy composites. To this end, shape memory alloy fibers that exhibit pseudoelasticity, one and two-way shape memory effects, rate dependence and transformation induced plasticity are considered. The behavior of the shape memory composites is determined by employing a micromechanical analysis which is capable of predicting the response of such composites that consist of polymer as well as metallic matrices. Since the shape memory alloy fibers behavior is dominated by the temperature, this micromechanical model accounts for the full thermomechanical coupling between the fibers and matrix in which the mechanical and thermal effects mutually affect each other. The micromechanical modeling is also applied to predict the behavior of shape memory alloy honeycombs, which form a promising new type of smart materials. The possibility of increasing the tensile strength of concrete by embedding activated shape memory wires is investigated. This is carried out by a micromechanical modeling in which both evolving damage effects as well as coupled damage-plasticity effects are incorporated in the prestressed concrete.