A continuum model of a thermoelastic solid capable of undergoing phase transitions

Abstract

We construct explicitly a Helmholtz free energy, a kinetic relation and a nucleation criterion for a one-dimensional thermoelastic solid, capable of undergoing either mechanically- or thermally-induced phase transitions. We study the hysteretic macroscopic response predicted by this model in the case of quasistatic processes involving stress cycling at constant temperature, thermal cycling at constant stress, or a combination of mechanical and thermal loading that gives rise to the shape-memory effect. These predictions are compared qualitatively with experimental results.

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