PROPERTY DATABASE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHAPE MEMORY ALLOY APPLICATIONS

Important points involving the selection of shape memory alloy (SMA) application projects arc discussed. The development of a property database for SMA is initiated. Both conventional data as well as characteristics which are unique for SMA are stored. As an application example of the database SMA-SELECT, important properties for Ti-Ni alloys near equi-atomic composition, such as temperature window width for superelasticity (SE), stress rate, critical yield stress, and their interaction have been analysed together with the influence of Ni content and heat treatment conditions. SE behaviour of Ti-Ni SMA is directly related to Ni content. Thermo-mechanical treatment affects SE by changing microstructure which in turn alters the critical yield stress and stress rate. The advantage of the database has been demonstrated when assessing experimental data of complex nature.