Santo Padula

Properties and Potential of Two (ni,pt)ti Alloys for Use as High-temperature Actuator Materials

The microstructure, transformation temperatures, basic tensile properties, shape memory behavior, and work output for two (Ni,Ti)Pt high-temperature shape memory alloys have been characterized. One was a Ni30Pt20Ti50 alloy (referred to as 20Pt) with transformation temperatures above 230 °C and the other was a Ni20Pt30Ti50 alloy (30Pt) with transformation temperatures above 530 °C. Both materials displayed shape memory behavior and were capable of 100% (no-load) strain recovery for strain levels up to their fracture limit (3-4%) when deformed at room temperature. For the 20Pt alloy, the tensile strength, modulus, and ductility dramatically increased when the material was tested just above the austenite finish (Af) temperature. For the 30Pt alloy, a similar change in yield behavior at temperatures above the Af was not observed. In this case the strength of the austenite phase was at best comparable and generally much weaker than the martensite phase. A ductility minimum was also observed just below the As temperature in this alloy. As a result of these differences in tensile behavior, the two alloys performed completely different when thermally cycled under constant load. The 20Pt alloy behaved similar to conventional binary NiTi alloys with work output due to the martensite-to-austenite transformation initially increasing with applied stress. The maximum work output measured in the 20Pt alloy was nearly 9 J/cm3 and was limited by the tensile ductility of the material. In contrast, the martensite-to-austenite transformation in the 30Pt alloy was not capable of performing work against any bias load. The reason for this behavior was traced back to its basic mechanical properties, where the yield strength of the austenite phase was similar to or lower than that of the martensite phase, depending on temperature. Hence, the recovery or transformation strain for the 30Pt alloy under load was essentially zero, resulting in zero work output.

Role of B19′ martensite deformation in stabilizing two-way shape memory behavior in NiTi

Deformation of a B19′ martensitic, polycrystalline Ni49.9Ti50.1 (at. %) shape memory alloy and its influence on the magnitude and stability of the ensuing two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) was investigated by combined ex situ mechanical experimentation and in situ neutron diffraction measurements at stress and temperature. The microstructural changes (texture, lattice strains, and phase fractions) during room-temperature deformation and subsequent thermal cycling were captured and compared to the bulk macroscopic response of the alloy. With increasing uniaxial strain, it was observed that B19′ martensite deformed by reorientation and detwinning with preferred selection of the (1¯50)M and (010)M variants, (201¯)B19′ deformation twinning, and dislocation activity. These mechanisms were indicated by changes in bulk texture from the neutron diffraction measurements. Partial reversibility of the reoriented variants and deformation twins was also captured upon load removal and thermal cycling, which after iso...

Measurement of the lattice plane strain and phase fraction evolution during heating and cooling in shape memory NiTi

We report on in situ neutron diffraction measurements during heating and cooling through the phase transformation in shape memory NiTi. The lattice plane specific strain evolution remains linear with temperature and is not influenced by intergranular stresses, enabling the determination of the thermal expansion tensor of B19′ NiTi. The neutron measurements are consistent with macroscopic dilatometric measurements and a 30 000 grain polycrystalline self-consistent model. The accommodative nature of B19′ NiTi results in macroscopic shape changes being offset (with temperature) from the start and finish of the transformation. The texture does not evolve in the absence of biasing stresses.

Resilient and Corrosion-proof Rolling Element Bearings Made from Superelastic Ni-Ti Alloys for Aerospace Mechanism Applications

Mechanical components (bearings, gears, mechanisms) typically utilize hardened construction materials to minimize wear and attain long life. In such components, loaded contact points (e.g., meshing gear teeth, bearing balls-raceway contacts) experience high contact stresses. The combination of high hardness and high elastic modulus often leads to damaging contact stress and denting, particularly during transient overload events such as shock impacts that occur during the launching of space vehicles or the landing of aircraft. In this webinar, Dr. DellaCorte will introduce the results of a research project that employs a superelastic alloy, Ni-Ti for rolling element bearing applications. Bearings and components made from such alloys can alleviate many problems encountered in advanced aerospace applications and may solve many terrestrial applications as well

Development, Characterization, and Design Considerations of Ni19.5Ti50.5 Pd25Pt5 High-temperature Shape Memory Alloy Helical Actuators

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) have been used in various applications since their discovery. However, their use as actuation devices in high-temperature environments has been limited due to the temperature constraints of commercially available materials. Recently, SMAs that produce good work characteristics at elevated temperatures have been developed at NASA’s Glenn Research Center. One such alloy, Ni19.5Ti50.5Pd25Pt 5, has shown repeatable strain recovery on the order of 2.5% in the presence of an externally applied stress at temperatures greater than 250°C. Based on these findings, potential applications for this alloy are being explored and further work is being done to assess the use of this alloy in various structural forms. In this article, the characterization of Ni 19.5Ti50.5Pd25Pt5 helical actuators is reported, including their mechanical responses and how variations in their responses correlate to changes in geometric parameters and training loads. Finally, implementation of previously published SMA spring design methodology in future SMA helical actuator development is considered through comparison of the observed and predicted responses.

Large scale simulation of NiTi helical spring actuators under repeated thermomechanical cycles

As typically utilized in applications, a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator operates under a large number of thermomechanical cycles, hence the importance of accounting for the cyclic behavior characteristics in modeling and numerical simulation of these actuators. To this end, the present work is focused on the characterization of the cyclic, evolutionary behavior of binary 55NiTi using a newly developed, multi-axial, material-modeling framework and its finite element analysis (FEA) implementation for use in the simulations of SMA actuators. In particular, two different geometric configurations of four- and two-coil helical springs subjected to axial end-forces are investigated under the effect of a large number of thermal cycles leading to the saturated deformation state of the coils. In addition, two different boundary conditions were examined, corresponding to: (a) the loading end cross section assumed to be free-to-twist, and (b) the loading end cross section assumed to be restrained against twist rotation. The study has led to the following five important conclusions: (i) the states of stresses and strains in the coils exhibited marked spatial non-homogeneities, both along the length as well as the cross section of the wires; (ii) the cyclic deformation response of the coils exhibits a similar evolutionary character to that of the 55NiTi material when tested under simple isobaric tensile stress conditions; (iii) the end boundary conditions affect the evolution of the deformation response; (iv) the magnitudes of the evolving nonlinear deformation states (i.e., axial displacements on the martensite and austenite sides, as well as the actuation displacement) were found to be proportional to the number of coils in an essentially linear manner, and (v) the change in coil diameter, while maintaining the pitch height, wire diameter and the number of coils fixed, has a significant effect on the response of the helical spring, both with regard to the resulting stress state and the evolutionary axial displacement behavior during the thermal cycles.

Properties of a Ni 19.5 Pd 30 Ti 50.5 high-temperature shape memory alloy in tension and compression

Potential applications involving high-temperature shape memory alloys have been growing in recent years. Even in those cases where promising new alloys have been identified, the knowledge base for such materials contains gaps crucial to their maturation and implementation in actuator and other applications. We begin to address this issue by characterizing the mechanical behavior of a Ni19.5Pd30Ti50.5 high-temperature shape memory alloy in both uniaxial tension and compression at various temperatures. Differences in the isothermal uniaxial deformation behavior were most notable at test temperatures below the martensite finish temperature. The elastic modulus of the material was very dependent on strain level; therefore, dynamic Youngs Modulus was determined as a function of temperature by an impulse excitation technique. More importantly, the performance of a thermally activated actuator material is dependent on the work output of the alloy. Consequently, the strain-temperature response of the Ni19.5Pd30Ti50.5 alloy under various loads was determined in both tension and compression and the specific work output calculated and compared in both loading conditions. It was found that the transformation strain and thus, the specific work output were similar regardless of the loading condition. Also, in both tension and compression, the strain-temperature loops determined under constant load conditions did not close due to the fact that the transformation strain during cooling was always larger than the transformation strain during heating. This was apparently the result of permanent plastic deformation of the martensite phase with each cycle. Consequently, before this alloy can be used under cyclic actuation conditions, modification of the microstructure or composition would be required to increase the resistance of the alloy to plastic deformation by slip.

Development of a HTSMA-Actuated Surge Control Rod for High-Temperature Turbomachinery Applications

In recent years, a demand for compact, lightweight, solid-state actuation systems has emerged, driven in part by the needs of the aeronautics industry. However, most actuation systems used in turbomachinery require not only elevated temperature but high-force capability. As a result, shape memory alloy (SMA) based systems have worked their way to the forefront of a short list of viable options to meet such a technological challenge. Most of the effort centered on shape memory systems to date has involved binary NiTi alloys but the working temperatures required in many aeronautics applications dictate significantly higher transformation temperatures than the binary systems can provide. Hence, a high temperature shape memory alloy (HTSMA) based on NiTiPdPt, having a transformation temperature near 300 o C, was developed. Various thermo-mechanical processing schemes were utilized to further improve the dimensional stability of the alloy and it was later extruded/drawn into wire form to be more compatible with envisioned applications. Mechanical testing on the finished wire form showed reasonable work output capability with excellent dimensional stability. Subsequently, the wire form of the alloy was incorporated into a benchtop system, which was shown to provide the necessary stroke requirements of ~0.125 inches for the targeted surge-control application. Cycle times for the actuator were limited to ~4 seconds due to control and cooling constraints but this cycle time was determined to be adequate for the surge control application targeted as the primary requirement was initial actuation of a surge control rod, which could be completed in approximately one second.

Calibration of a three-dimensional multimechanism shape memory alloy material model for the prediction of the cyclic “attraction” character in binary NiTi alloys

As typically utilized in applications, a particular shape memory alloy device or component operates under a large number of thermomechanical cycles, hence, the importance of accounting for the cyclic behavior characteristics in modeling and characterization of these systems. To this end, the present work is focused on the characterization of the evolutionary, cyclic behavior of binary 55NiTi (having a moderately-high transformation temperature range). In this study, an extensive set of test data from recent cyclic, isobaric, tension tests was used. Furthermore, for the calibration and characterization of this material, a newly developed, multiaxial, material-modeling framework was implemented. In this framework, multiple, inelastic mechanisms are used to regulate the partitioning of energy dissipation and storage governing the evolutionary thermomechanical response.

Correlation between Mechanical Behavior and Actuator-type Performance of Ni-Ti-Pd High-temperature Shape Memory Alloys

High-temperature shape memory alloys in the NiTiPd system are being investigated as lower cost alternatives to NiTiPt alloys for use in compact solid-state actuators for the aerospace, automotive, and power generation industries. A range of ternary NiTiPd alloys containing 15 to 46 at.% Pd has been processed and actuator mimicking tests (thermal cycling under load) were used to measure transformation temperatures, work behavior, and dimensional stability. With increasing Pd content, the work output of the material decreased, while the amount of permanent strain resulting from each load-biased thermal cycle increased. Monotonic isothermal tension testing of the high-temperature austenite and low temperature martensite phases was used to partially explain these behaviors, where a mismatch in yield strength between the austenite and martensite phases was observed at high Pd levels. Moreover, to further understand the source of the permanent strain at lower Pd levels, strain recovery tests were conducted to determine the onset of plastic deformation in the martensite phase. Consequently, the work behavior and dimensional stability during thermal cycling under load of the various NiTiPd alloys is discussed in relation to the deformation behavior of the materials as revealed by the strain recovery and monotonic tension tests.