Acoustic emission and shape memory effect in the martensitic transformation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics

Background:

• Acoustic emission (AE) signals exhibit high reproducibility during thermal cycling of athermal martensites.
• These signals correlate with the growth and shrinkage of martensite domains within a specific temperature range.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between acoustic emission signals and martensitic domain dynamics.
• To validate a new two-dimensional model for martensitic transformation using experimental observations.
• To explore the connection between these phenomena and the shape memory effect.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a recently developed two-dimensional model for martensitic transformation.
• Analyzing acoustic emission signals generated during repeated thermal cycling of athermal martensites.
• Comparing model predictions with experimental data on domain morphology and AE signals.

Main Results:

• The 2D model successfully mimics the reproducible acoustic emission signals observed experimentally.
• The model demonstrates a correlation between AE signals and the growth/shrinkage of martensite domains.
• The study links these AE signal features to the shape memory effect, showing near-full reversal of morphological features.

Conclusions:

• The 2D model provides a valid framework for understanding AE signal generation during martensitic transformations.
• Reproducible AE signals are intrinsically linked to martensite domain evolution and the shape memory effect under specific thermal cycling conditions.