Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 124-127).

Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009. / Full text also available online. Scroll down for electronic link.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--City University of Hong Kong, 2004. / At head of title: City University of Hong Kong, Department of Physics and Materials Science, Master of Science in materials engineering & nanotechnology dissertation. Title from title screen (viewed on Aug. 31, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Worcester Polytechnic Institute. / Keywords: thermomechanical, SMAs, NiTiNOL, ACES, OEH. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. / Gall, Kenneth, Committee Member ; Leon, Roberto, Committee Member ; Kurtis, Kimberly, Committee Member ; Jacobs, Laurence, Committee Member ; DesRoches, Reginald, Committee Chair.

Thesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2007. / Engineers and Technologists have found several approaches to control the shape of an aerofoil and improve the performance of a wing at different flow regimes; this research has been done at 2D level. In this work, a novel approach has been developed. The inspiration for this work comes from biological research. A 3D wing body has been modeled and flow conditions around it were simulated by advanced computer technology. The fabrication of the wing, based on the design optimization model, has been conducted using rapid prototyping technology. The unique thermal and mechanical properties that are exhibited by shape memory alloys (SMAs) have presented an exciting design possibility in the field of aerospace engineering. This kind of smart material was incorporated in the wing structure and when activated can alter the shape of the wing, thus effectively increasing the efficiency of a wing in flight, at several different flow regimes.

Thesis (DTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Peninsula Technikon, 2004. / Engineers and Technologists have always been identified as those individuals that put into practice the theories developed by scientists and physicists to enhance the lives of human beings. In the same spirit as those that came before, this thesis describes the development of a computational engineering tool that will aid Engineers and Technologists to design smart or intelligent structures comprising of NiTi shape memory alloy rods for actuation purposes. The design of smart actuators consisting of NiTi shape memory alloy structural members will be beneficial to industries where light weight, compactness, reliability and failure tolerance is of utmost importance. This is mainly due to the unique material responses exhibited by this smart material. The shape memory effect, one of these material responses consists out of two stages: a low temperature load induced phase transformation causing a macroscopic deformation (either extension, contraction, etc.) also known as quasi-plasticity; and a high temperature phase transformation that erases the low temperature macroscopic deformation and reverts the material to some predefined geometry. When designing actuators consisting of this smart material, the quasi-plastic material response produces the actuation stroke while the high temperature phase transformation produces the actuation force. The successful engineering design of smart structures and devices particularly suited for applications where they operate in a capacity, as actuators harnessing the shape memory effect are dependent on a few important factors. These include the engineers familiarity with the type of smart material used, the availability of sound experimental data pertaining to the complex material responses exhibited by the smart material, the engineers level of proficiency with existing constitutive models available to simulates these material responses, and the engineers knowledge of simulation tools consisting of a suitable control algorithm fo~ the modeling of not only the device or structure itself but also the actuator involved in the design.

This work presents a novel approach to arranging shape memory alloy (SMA) wires into a functional heat engine. Significant contributions include the design itself, a preliminary analytical model and the realization of a research prototype; thereby, laying a foundation from which to base refinements and seek practical applications. Shape memory alloys are metallic materials that, if deformed when cold, can forcefully recover their original, "memorized" shapes, when heated. The proposed engine consists of a set of SMA wires stretched between two crankshafts, synchronized to rotate in the same direction. Cranks on the first crankshaft are slightly longer than cranks on the second. During operation, the engine is positioned between two distinct thermal reservoirs such that half of its wires are heated while the other half are cooled. Wires on the hot side attempt to contract, driving the engine in the direction that relieves the heat-induced stress. Wires on the cold side soften and stretch as the engine rotates. Because the force generated during heated recovery exceeds that required for cooled deformation, the engine is capable of generating shaft power. Limited experimental measurements of shaft speed were performed. An analytical model of the engine predicts that the maximum output power for the prototype, under test conditions, should be 0.75 W. Thermal efficiency, though not measured or calculated in this work, is expected to be low. Potential applications may include the conversion of waste heat into shaft power. / Master of Science

Ti-Ni phase transformation behaviour is very sensitive to the thermal and mechanical history of the alloy. Thermomechanical cycling through the full transformation range may degrade the Ti-Ni functional properties (functional fatigue). These repeated transformation cycles cause changes in the SMA phase transformation behaviour due to the formation and accumulation of defects in the alloy microstructure. The main objective of this thesis is to establish the relationships between the changes in Ti-Ni phase transformation behaviour caused by thermomechanical processes, especially in the R-phase range, and the functional properties of the Ti-Ni shape memory alloys (SMAs). Establishing these relationships should allow us to find appropriate thermomechanical processes to substantially improve the Ti-Ni one-way and two-way shape memory effects. To achieve this objective, several experimental techniques are used including measuring variations of the electrical resistivity with temperature, X-ray diffraction, isothermal tension testing, thermal cycling under constant stress, and thermal cycling under zero stress. This study of the phase transformation changes caused by thermomechanical processes has led to a new way of interpreting resistivity curves for calculating the transformation temperatures. Moreover, we have determined how the R-phase influences the functional properties of SMA and, finally, we have substantially improved the properties of one-way and two-way shape memory effects by using thermal processes that avoid permanent deformation of the alloy. / Las transformaciones de fase en aleaciones de NiTi son altamente dependientes de la composición de la aleación, así como de la historia térmica y mecánica previa al uso de la SMA. El objetivo principal de esta tesis es establecer los vínculos existentes entre los cambios producidos en las transformaciones de fase por procesos termomecánicos y las propiedades funcionales en aleaciones con memoria de forma de Ti-Ni, tal que nos permita hallar los procesos termomecánicos más adecuados que proporcionen una mejora substancial en las propiedades funcionales de estas aleaciones. La determinación de estas relaciones, prestando especial atención a la fase-R, nos debe proporcionar las claves para incrementar las propiedades de memoria de forma y doble memoria de forma. Para la consecución de este objetivo se han usado diferentes técnicas de caracterización experimental: variación de la resistividad eléctrica con la temperatura (ER), difractometría de rayos X (DRX), ensayos de tracción isotérmicos, ciclados térmicos a tensión constante y ciclados térmicos a tensión nula. A través del estudio exhaustivo de las transformaciones de fase, se ha aportado una nueva interpretación de las curvas de resistividad para el cálculo de las temperaturas de transformación, se ha determinado la influencia de la fase-R en las propiedades funcionales de las SMA y se han mejorado substancialmente las propiedades de memoria simple y doble memoria de forma mediante procesos térmicos que evitan deformaciones permanentes antes del uso de la aleación. / Les transformacions de fase en aliatges de NiTi són altament dependents de la composició de l'aliatge, així com de la història tèrmica i mecànica prèvia a l'ús de la SMA. L'objectiu principal d'aquesta tesi és establir els vincles existents entre els canvis produïts en les transformacions de fase per processos termomecànics i les propietats funcionals en aliatges amb memòria de forma de Ti-Ni, tal que ens permeti trobar els processos termomecànics més adequats que proporcionin una millora substancial en les propietats funcionals d'aquests aliatges. La determinació d'aquestes relacions, prestant especial atenció a la fase-R, ens ha de proporcionar les claus per incrementar les propietats de memòria de forma i doble memòria de forma. Per a la consecució d'aquest objectiu s'han usat diferents tècniques de caracterització experimental: variació de la resistivitat elèctrica amb la temperatura (ER), difractometria de raigs X (DRX), assaigs de tracció isotèrmics, ciclats tèrmics a tensió constant i ciclats tèrmics a tensió nula. A través de l'estudi exhaustiu de les transformacions de fase, s'ha aportat una nova interpretació de les corbes de resistivitat per al càlcul de les temperatures de transformació, s'ha determinat la influència de la fase-R en les propietats funcionals de les SMA i s'han millorat substancialment les propietats de memòria simple i doble memòria de forma mitjançant processos tèrmics que eviten deformacions permanents abans de l'ús de l'aliatge.

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) exhibit unique combination of structural and functional properties and hence have a variety of current and potential applications. The mechanical behaviour of SMAs, in particular the influence of processing on the microstructure, which in turn influences the performance of the alloy, mechanical properties at the nano-scale, and under cyclic loading conditions, are of great current interest. In this thesis, specific issues within each of these broad areas are examined with a view to suggest further optimize/characterize SMAs. They are the following: (a) For thermo-mechanical secondary processing of SMAs, can we identify the optimum combination of temperature- strain rate window that yields a desirable microstructure? (b) How can indentation be used to obtain information about functional properties of shape memory alloys so as to complement traditional methods? (c) How can the information obtained from indentation be utilized for the identification of the alloy composition that yields a high temperature SMA through the combinatorial diffusion couple approach? Towards achieving the first objective, we study the hot deformation behavior of a cast NiTi alloy with a view of controlling the final microstructure. The “processing maps” approach is used to identify the optimum combination of temperature and strain rate for the thermomechanical processing of a SMA system commonly used in actuators applications (NiTiCu). Uniaxial compressions experiments are conducted in the temperature range of 800- 1050 °C and at strain rate range of 10-3 and 102 s-1. 2-D power dissipation efficiency and instability maps are generated and various deformation mechanisms, which operate in different temperature–strain rate regimes, are identified with the aid of these maps. Complementary microstructural analysis of specimens (post deformation) is performed with the help of electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) analysis to arrive at a processing route which produces stress free grains. A safe window suitable for industrial processing of this alloy which leads to grain refinement and strain-free grains (as calculated by various methods of misorientation analysis representation) is suggested. Regions of the instability (characterized by the same analysis) result in strained microstructure, which in turn can affect the performance of the SMA in a detrimental manner. Next, to extract useful information from indentation responses, microindentation experiments at a range of temperatures (as the shape memory transformation is in progress) are conducted underneath the Vickers indenter. SME was observed to cause a change in the calculated recovery ratios at temperatures above As. Spherical indentation of austenite and martensite show different characteristics in elastic and elasto- plastic regimes but are similar in the plastic regime. NanoECR experiments are also conducted under a spheroconical indenter at room temperature, where the resistance measured is observed to increase during the unloading of room temperature austenite SMA. This is a signature of the reverse transformation back to austenite during the withdrawal of the indenter. Lastly, recovery ratios are monitored in the case of a NiTiPd diffusion couple before and after heat treatment at different temperature intervals using non- contact optical profilometry. The recovery ratio approach is successfully used to determine the useful temperature and %Pd range for a potential NiTiPd high temperature SMA. The method makes high throughput identification of high temperature shape memory alloys possible due to promising alloy compositions being identified at an early stage.