A 3-D phenomenological constitutive model for shape memory alloys under multiaxial loadings

This paper presents a new phenomenological constitutive model for shape memory alloys, developed within the framework of irreversible thermodynamics and based on a scalar and a tensorial internal variable. In particular, the model uses a measure of the amount of stress-induced martensite as scalar internal variable and the preferred direction of variants as independent tensorial internal variable. Using this approach, it is possible to account for variant reorientation and for the effects of multiaxial non-proportional loadings in a more accurate form than previously done. In particular, we propose a model that has the property of completely decoupling the pure reorientation mechanism from the pure transformation mechanism. Numerical tests show the ability to reproduce main features of shape memory alloys in proportional loadings and also to improve prediction capabilities under non-proportional loadings, as proven by the comparison with several experimental results available in the literature.