MODELING OF THE MARTENSITIC-TRANSFORMATION IN SHAPE-MEMORY ALLOY COMPOSITES

A model has been developed to describe the transformation behaviour of a shape memory alloy (SMA) fibre embedded in a polymer matrix. The ma rtensite volume fraction versus temperature is calculated analytically for different fibre contents. It is shown that, because of the constr aint of the surrounding matrix, considerably more overheating is neede d than for the free SMA to achieve the transformation. By using finite element analysis, the peculiar behaviour close to the free composite edge is evaluated. The stress distribution in both the fibre and the m atrix are calculated.