Low-force elastocaloric refrigeration via bending

Elastocaloric cooling has been identified as a promising alternative to high global warming potential vapor compression cooling. Two key bottlenecks adoption are the need for bulky/expensive actuators provide sufficient uniaxial stress and inadequate elastocaloric material fatigue life. This paper defines physics that govern performance of axisymmetric flexural bending use an emerging low-force low-fatigue heating mechanisms further demonstrates continuous rotary-driven prototype using polycrystalline Ni50.75Ti48.74. is determined infrared thermography during uniaxial-tension four-point thermomechanical testing. A systematic study reveals effects strain rate (from 0.001 0.025 s?1), maximum 2 8%), mode on temperature evolution, mechanical response, coefficient performance. Four-point experiments demonstrate reduction up 11.3 °C, coefficients between 2.31 21.71, 6.09- 7.75-fold in required actuation force compared tension. The absence localized macroscopic martensite domains reduced dissipation flexure represent microstructure degradation improved rotary-based shown similar with added benefit discrete hot cold zones, cooling, inexpensive rotary actuation, scalability, which represents significant advancement compact, long lifetime,