Authors : I. Kebbache , F. Alirachedi , S. Chouf , M. Benchiheub and S. Belkahla
Abstract: The goal of this work is the study of the pseudoelastic behaviour of shape memory polycrystalline CuZnAl alloy. To this end, pseudoelastic tests were carried out using a machine that is specific to Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) (the four point bending machine). The tests were made at a strain controlled regime (constant maximum strain) in a significant temperature range i.e., [25, 105 C]. The electrical resistivity (because of its sensitivity to structural changes during phase transitions at the solid state) was also used to characterize CuZnAl. In particular, it was used to determine the points of direct and reverse martensitic transformation. The obtained result shows that at lower temperatures a reorientation of the martensite variants takes place, whereas at high temperatures a phenomenon of germination and growth of martensite under stress is observed. It is found that, in agreement with what is reported in the literature, the value for the Young modulus differs drastically for the two martensitic and austenitic states. It is also shown that both maximum and critical stresses increase with increasing test temperature and that, during a mechanical cyclic and for a given temperature, the residual strain increases according to a phenomenon of defect accumulation and decreases with increasing test temperature.
I. Kebbache , F. Alirachedi , S. Chouf , M. Benchiheub and S. Belkahla , 2007. The Temperature Effect on the Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour in Shape Memory Polycrystalline CuZnAl Alloy. Research Journal of Applied Sciences, 2: 124-128.