Introduction to Modeling and Engineering Applications of Shape Memory Alloys

It all started with a trip to Red River... Coauthors, families, and colleagues enjoy a working vacation in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico, March 2006. As technical conversations on modeling, characterization and applications of shape memory alloys (SMAs) were blending with the view of the white snowy peaks surrounding Red River, New Mexico, it became clear to our research group that a consistent and comprehensive text on SMAs would be very helpful to future students interested in performing research in this ?eld. Many communication barriers could be eliminated and access to the subst- tial body of research discussed in the literature would be increased. In this way, a working vacation became the motivating factor behind a challenging research project. This book has been written with contributions from three of my current Ph.D. students, Luciano Machado, Parikshith Kumar and Darren Hartl, and three former Ph.D. students, Pavlin Entchev, Peter Popov and Bj¨ orn Kiefer. These latter three coauthors were still members of the Shape Memory Alloy Research Team (SMART), or in close proximity, when we started the project of writing this book more than a year and a half ago. The work of a seventh former Ph.D. student, Siddiq Qidwai, is also included in this book. The task of putting forth a sequence of topics on shape memory alloys (SMAs) that VIII Preface forms a coherent learning path seemed natural, given the diversity of topics covered by their Ph.D. work.

This book provides a working knowledge of the modeling and applications of shape memory alloys (SMAs) to practicing engineers and graduate and advanced undergraduate students with an interest in the behavior and utility of active or multifunctional materials and "smart" structures.  SMAs represent a unique material class with the ability to recover seemingly permanent deformations and provide large forces upon heating.  These interesting characteristics have led to an ever-expanding variety of engineering applications which address design problems requiring high force actuation in a confined environment.  Such applications range from morphing aerospace structures to medical stents and other biomedical devices.

Specifically, this book, which includes theory, problems and references, aims to provide readers with the following:

• Comprehensive introduction to the behavior of shape memory alloys which includes a review of SMA history, a microstructural description of the observed effects and a summary of engineering applications.
  
• Review of the experimental characterization methods used to quantitykey aspects of the thermomechanical behavior of SMAs.
  
• Introduction to continuum thermodynamics as applied to the development of thermomechanical SMA constitutive models, including methods of numerical implementation.
  
• Presentation of additional modeling options which address specialized SMA material behavior such as transformation-induced plasticity and constitutive modeling of magnetic SMAs.
  

Edited by a recognized expert leading a group with a long history of SMA research, Shape Memory Alloys: Modeling and Applications is a necessary book for students and practicing engineers interested in a thorough understanding of shape memory alloys.