Material behavior under thermal loading

Material behavior under thermo-mechanical and isothermal loading cases is studied. The influence of constraint on thermo-mechanical deformation behavior is identified using a two-bar structure. Some of the possible microstructural mechanisms that may be operative under thermo-mechanical loading conditions are discussed. Isothermal tests are reported in the temperature range 20 to 600°C. Additional isothermal tests with step increases and decreases in temperature are performed to study the influence of temperature history on material behavior. During these tests, transient material behavior indicated temperature-strain history effects. Constitutive equations that capture essential features of material behavior under isothermal and thermo-mechanical loading cases are examined. Preliminary predictions of cyclic stress-strain loops are compared to experimental response. Further work is needed to incorporate temperature-strain history effects into constitutive equations.