A Combined Experimental-Numerical Approach for Investigating Texture Evolution of NiTi Shape Memory Alloy under Uniaxial Compression

Texture evolution of NiTi shape memory alloy was investigated during uniaxial compression deformation at 673 K (400 °C) by combining crystal plasticity finite element method with electron back-scattered diffraction experiment and transmission electron microscope experiment. Transmission electron microscope observation indicates that dislocation slip rather than deformation twinning plays a dominant role in plastic deformation of B2 austenite NiTi shape memory alloy at 673 K (400 °C). Electron back-scattered diffraction experiment illustrates heterogeneous microstructure evolution resulting from dislocation slip in NiTi shape memory alloy at 673 K (400 °C). {110}<100>, {010}<100> and {110}<111> slip systems are introduced into a crystal plasticity constitutive model. Based on the constructed representative volume element model and the extracted crystallographic orientations, particle swarm optimization algorithm is used to identify crystal plasticity parameters from experimental results of NiTi shape memory alloy. Using the fitted material parameters, a crystal plasticity finite element method is used to predict texture evolution of NiTi shape memory alloy during uniaxial compression deformation. The simulation results agree well with the experimental ones. With the progression of plastic deformation, a crystallographic plane of NiTi shape memory alloy gradually rotates to be vertical to the loading direction, which lays the foundation for forming the <111> fiber texture