Modeling the role of phase boundaries on the pullout response of shape memory wire reinforced composites

Shape memory alloy (SMA) wire-reinforced composites are being widely adopted in several applications. The interactions of the SMA wires with the matrix are quite complex due to heterogeneous strain distributions arising from phase transformations in SMA wires. There have been few studies of the role of the phase boundaries and their effect on debonding of the SMA wire. In this work, a discrete particle approach is used to model the effect of microstructure on the debonding of SMA composites. The force versus displacement response is studied under pullout loading conditions and the microstructure is found to have a strong effect.