Role of microstructure in the thermomechanical behavior of SMA composites

A numerical study on the role of microstructure in the thermomechanical beh avior of shape memory alloy (SMA) composites under uniaxial tension is perf ormed The simulation is based on the micromechanics model established recen tly by the authors. The influence of the shape and volume fraction of SMA o n the overall behavior of the composite as well as on the internal stress a nd strain evolution is investigated. The strengthening effect of SMA on duc tile matrix is illustrated. The obtained results demonstrate several intere sting features of the new composite find may serve as a quantitative basis for the microstructure design of this composite in the future.