The Effect of Loss of Stability of an Arc-Plate Made of Ti-Ni Shape Memory Alloy

Abstract
Mechanical behavior of an arched Ti-Ni strip with shape memory effect is investigated. It is shown that an arched Ti-Ni strip bent inversely to its initial shape at heating restores its initial shape with a snap (“the snap effect”). This type of behavior is caused by loss of stability at reverse martensitic transformation. It should be noted that the clap is heard when the strip’s ends rest on the stationary hinged grips. If one or both ends are free, the transition to the austenitic state and the form changing process occur steadily. Shift of one of the edges of an arched strip at phase transformation is a necessary condition for loss of stability with a realization of a snap with a clap. Regular patterns and peculiarities of form changing of an arched strip at different displacement values are found out.