Fracture resistance of shape memory alloys under thermomechanical loading

Experimental measurements of the fracture resistance Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs) under thermomechanical loading conditions are reported. NiTi compact tension specimens subjected to either isothermal mechanical or isobaric thermal loading; latter path is an idealization typical paths that utilize these alloys as actuators. A single-parameter description experimental data employed on basis a path-independent contour integral, which approximated by load–load-line displacement curves recorded from experiments. The obtained results represent first measurement toughness SMAs coupled thermo-mechanical loading, and indicate enhancement associated with crack advance less pronounced than corresponding one loading.