Micro-macro analysis of shape memory alloy composites

The aim of the paper is to develop a micro–macro approach for the analysis of the mechanical behavior of composites obtained embedding long fibers of Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) into an elastic matrix. In order to determine the overall constitutive response of the SMA composites, two homogenization techniques are proposed: one is based on the self-consistent method while the other on the analysis of a periodic composite. The overall response of the SMA composites is strongly influenced by the pseudo-elastic and shape memory effects occurring in the SMA material. In particular, it is assumed that the phase transformations in the SMA are governed by the wire temperature and by the average stress tensor acting in the fiber. A possible prestrain of the fibers is taken into account in the model. Numerical applications are developed in order to analyze the thermo-mechanical behavior of the SMA composite. The results obtained by the proposed procedures are compared with the ones determined through a micromechanical analysis of a periodic composite performed using suitable finite elements. Then, in order to study the macromechanical response of structural elements made of SMA composites, a threedimensional finite element is developed implementing at each Gauss point the overall constitutive laws of the SMA composite obtained by the proposed homogenization procedures. Some numerical applications are developed in order to assess the efficiency of the proposed micro–macro model.