On phase transformations in shape memory alloy materials and large deformation generalized plasticity

A new version of rate-independent generalized plasticity, suitable for the derivation of general thermomechanical constitutive laws for materials undergoing phase transformations, is proposed within a finite deformation framework. More specifically, by assuming an additive decomposition of the finite strain tensor into elastic and inelastic (transformation induced) parts and by considering the fractions of the various material phases as internal variables, a multi-phase formulation of the theory is developed. The concepts presented are applied for the derivation of a three-dimensional thermomechanical model for shape memory alloy materials. The ability of the model in simulating several patterns of the extremely complex behavior of these materials, under both monotonic and cyclic loadings, is assessed by representative numerical examples.