Shape memory alloys in automotive industry – overview, application, modeling

Abstract

Shape Memory Alloys (SMA) are widely known as smart materials used as actuators in many engineering systems. SMA are known as very thermo-sensitive materials, which have different responses in various environments. Also, the loading or deformation rate of SMA structures has a significant influence on the material temperature change. The reason is the complex phase-transformation process between the austenite and martensite what results in complex thermo-mechanical behavior. These properties are essential for efficiently applying such materials to actuate specific processes by the phenomena of superelasticity or shape memory effects, which exhibit under proper conditions. With the overview of SMA's current application in the automotive industry, in this paper, the recent research results in SMA modeling and simulation are analyzed to propose the possibilities, limitations, and directions of future research in this field of application.