Experiments of thermomechanical fatigue of SMAs
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abstract
As SMA wires are gaining in popularity for use as actuators, one constitutive parameter that remains unknown is the thermomechanical fatigue life. Even though the effect of thermal cycles on the transformation characteristics of SMAs has been studied, these tests have not been extended to high number of cycles. In this study, a novel test frame developed to study the thermomechanical fatigue life of SMAs is described. Additionally, a testing protocol is discussed necessary to fully establish the fatigue characteristics of SMAs under various conditions. Initial results are presented for the thermal fatigue life of NiTiCu (K-alloy) SMAs under a constant applied stress. The results of the initial tests show a substantial increase in the number of cycles to failure as the applied stress level reduces to approximately 100 MPa.
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Smart Structures and Materials 1999: Smart Materials Technologies