Influence of Dynamic Compression on Phase Transformation of Martensitic NiTi Shape Memory Alloys

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit high damping capacity in both austenitic and martensitic phases, due to either a stress-induced martensite phase transformation or a stress-induced martensite variant reorientation, making them ideal candidates for vibration suppression devices to protect structural components from damage due to external forces. In this study, both quasi-static and dynamic compression was conducted on a martensitic NiTi SMA using a mechanical loading frame and on a Kolsky compression bar, respectively, to examine the relationship between microstructure and phase transformation characteristics of martensitic NiTi SMAs. Both endothermic and exothermic peaks disappear completely after experiencing deformation at a strain rate of 10(3) s(-1) and to a strain of about 10 pct. The phase transformation peaks reappear after the deformed specimens were annealed at 873 K (600 A degrees C) for 30 minutes. As compared to samples from quasi-static loading, where a large amount of twinning is observed with a small amount of grain distortion and fracture, samples from dynamic loading show much less twinning with a larger amount of grain distortion and fracture.