Thermomechanical Testing Machine Conceived for the Study of Shape Memory Alloys. Application to the Training and Testing of the Two-Way Memory Effect

A. Villafaña; M. Masse; R. Portier; J. Pons

doi:doi:10.1051/jp4:19975104

Accès gratuit

Numéro		J. Phys. IV France Volume 07, Numéro C5, November 1997 IV^th European Symposium on Martensitic Transformations


Page(s)		C5-655 - C5-660
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:19975104

IV^th European Symposium on Martensitic Transformations

J. Phys. IV France 07 (1997) C5-655-C5-660
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:19975104

Thermomechanical Testing Machine Conceived for the Study of Shape Memory Alloys. Application to the Training and Testing of the Two-Way Memory Effect

A. Villafaña¹, M. Masse^{1, 2}, R. Portier^{1, 2} and J. Pons³

¹ Laboratoire de Métallurgie Structurale, ENSCP, 11 rue Pierre et Marie Curie, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France
² CECM/CNRS, 15 rue G. Urbain, 94400 Vitry-sur-Seine, France
³ Dept. Fisica, Universitat de les Illes Balears, 07071 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Abstract
An electrohydraulic testing machine dedicated to the study of shape memory alloys has been developed. A complete computer control of force (resolution ±1 N), elongation (sensitivity ±10 µm) and temperature (precision 1 K) has been built. The machine is able to work in a soft mode, i.e. force controlled, or a hard mode i.e. deformation controlled and in a range of temperatures from 173 K to 473 K. The performances of the system have been checked by studying the two-way shape memory effect induced by thermomechanical cycling in Cu-Zn-Al alloys. The training cycles consist of cooling down to the Mf temperature under a uniaxial tensile stress of 35 MPa followed by heating up to Af at zero stress. The cycling procedures are completely automatic. A comparison of the two-way memory effect in single crystals (nominal Ms of 273 K) and polycrystals (nominal Ms of 230 K) is reported. A study in compression of tensile educated crystals shows the aptitude of these specimens to produce work.