An approach for modelling fracture of shape memory alloy parts

Equations describing deformation defects, damage accumulation, and fracture condition have been suggested. Analytical and numerical solutions have been obtained for defects produced by a shear in a fixed direction. Under cyclic loading the number of cycles to failure well fits the empirical Koffin-Manson law. The developed model is expanded to the case of the micro-plastic deformation, which accompanies martensite accommodation in shape memory alloys. Damage of a shape memory specimen has been calculated for two regimes of loading: a constant stress and cyclic variation of temperature across the interval of martensitic transformations, and at a constant temperature corresponding to the pseudoelastic state and cyclic variation of stress. The obtained results are in a good qualitative agreement with available experimental data.