Anisotropy of Cu-based shape memory alloys in tension/compression thermomechanical loads

Tension/compression thermomechanical experiments were performed on oriented CuAlNi shape memory alloy single crystals and CuAlZnMn single and polycrystals. Response of the single crystals in thermomechanical loads was strongly anisotropic, dependent on the orientation of the load axis and sense of the load Tension/compression stress-temperature diagrams were constructed from experimentally determined transformation stresses and temperatures. It was shown that the history dependent strain response of the single crystal in a complex tension/compression thermomechanical cycle could be predicted from the diagram. Thermomechanical behaviors of the CuAlZnMn polycrystal under tension/compression were reported and discussed on the basis of the knowledge of the single crystal anisotropy.