A micromechanics-inspired three-dimensional constitutive model for the thermomechanical response of shape-memory alloys

The goal of this thesis is to develop a three-dimensional micromechanics-inspired constitutive model for polycrystalline shape-memory alloys. The model is presented in two forms: (1) The one-dimensional framework where we picture the ability of the model to capture the main properties of shape-memory alloys such as superelasticity and the shape-memory effect; (2) the three-dimensional model where micromechanics origins of the model, the concepts that emerged from those analyses and their relation to macroscopic properties in both single and polycrystals are presented.; We use this framework to study the effects of the texture and anisotropy in material behavior. Since phase transformation often competes with plasticity in shape-memory alloys, we incorporate that phenomenon into our model. We also demonstrate the ability of the model to predict the response of the material and track the phase transformation process for multi-axial, proportional and non-proportional loading and unloading experiments. We consider both stress-controlled and strain-controlled experiments and develop the model for isothermal, adiabatic and non-adiabatic thermal conditions. Adiabatic heating and loading rate both lead to apparent hardening at high rates. We also visit this problem and examine the relative role of these two factors.; Finally we extend our model to study the reversible alpha ↔ epsilon martensitic phase transformation in pure iron. We consider a wide range of loading rates ranging from quasistatic to high rate dynamic loading and use our model to describe the evolution of the microstructure along with the effects of rate hardening and thermal softening.