Modeling of Macroscopic Response of Phase Transforming Materials under Quasi-Static Loading

Abstract. Based on a continuum model of solid-solid phase transformations, the macroscopic response of a bar of a thermoelastic phase transforming material loaded quasistatically is investigated. A critical loading rate is identified for the evolution of a single phase boundary in the bar during an isothermal process. It is shown that, when the loading rate is larger than this critical loading rate, nucleation occurs either continuously or at multiple sites; when the loading rate is lower than this critical loading rate, the size of the hysteresis loop increases with increasing loading rate, and decreases with an increase in the mobility of the phase boundary. The heat conduction due to the heat generated by the latent heat of the phase transformation is considered for a special case.