Deformation of adaptive materials. Part II. Adaptive composite

A new class of materials, layer composites containing adaptive polydomain c omponents, is considered. Polydomain structures can be the result of constr ained phase transformation, Polydomain structures consist of periodically a lternating layers of different stable and metastable phases (heterophase po lydomain) or differently oriented domains of product phase (e.g. polytwin). The domain interface movement enables an additional mode of deformation. T he theory predicts unusual physical and mechanical properties of composites , particularly, considerable decrease of the effective elastic moduli of co mposites, nonlinear stress-strain relations, and critical behavior at small thickness of an active layer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.