Biomedical Applications of Shape Memory Alloys

Figure 2

Shape memory effect (𝑇≤𝑀_𝑓). (1) Elastic deformation of multivariant martensite; (2) multivariant to single-variant martensite transformation; (3) elastic deformation of single-variant martensite; (4) elastic strain recovery; (5) transformation strain recovery by thermal loading Δ𝑇 which increases the temperature up to 𝐴_𝑓. 𝜀_𝑦^𝑆 = single-variant martensite yield strain (i.e., maximum elastic strain). 𝜎_𝑦^𝑆 = single-variant martensite yield stress. 𝜎^𝑀𝑆= value of the stress component inducing 𝑀→𝑆 transformation.