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Simulation of SMA in Abaqus with UMAT
Shape-memory alloys (SMAs) have the ability to recover their original shape, thanks to the shape-memory effect and superelasticity. These unique characteristics have led to the broad usage of SMAs in engineering and medical applications. Simulations offer cost-effective methods for analyzing SMAs’ behavior, ultimately enhancing their reliability and performance. Consequently, researchers frequently employ simulations to investigate SMA-based systems. This educational package begins by exploring the fundamentals of SMA wires, presenting their various types and specific capabilities. It then provides the necessary constitutive equations to describe the behavior of SMAs in simulation. The package includes a flowchart and a step-by-step guide for writing a subroutine to model SMAs in Abaqus. Users will also discover a workshop that uses Abaqus to simulate the superelasticity effect in SMA wires. This workshop not only offers guidance on the simulation and the implementation of the subroutine, but also compares the result with an analytical solution for verification.