Metastable effects on martensitic transformation in SMA part VII. Aging problems in NiTi

Abstract

Shape memory alloys (SMA) are interesting for applications in damping of civil engineering structures. To achieve the SMA as a guaranteed material for damping of structures requires a reliability study of the static and dynamic properties adapted to each type of application. Here we present static (temperature and time effects) and dynamic actions in pseudo-elastic NiTi SMA. We concern with long time effects of temperature and time mainly in beta phase. NiTi results are presented, including measurements of electrical resistance as a function of temperature and time, DSC to -80°C (TA Instruments), non-conventional conduction calorimetry (to 80 K), and several X-ray diffraction spectra at different temperatures. Diffusion effects are present, and all the measurements show that transformation temperatures change with time of aging even at moderate temperatures (i.e., near 100°C), depending on time and temperature. It is possible to visualize the diffusion change in the R phase transformation via classical X-ray characterization. We include some results of pre-stressing effects applying the stress at different zones of the hysteresis cycle. The experimental analysis shows that coupling between stress and temperature enhances the changes. For long times (10, 20 years) and direct sunny actions, more deep analysis is required. Finally, some dynamic effects in cycling affecting the SMA creep are outlined. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.