Coupling effects in bending problems for beams of a shape memory alloy

Coupling effects of boundary-value problems that arise for shape-memory alloys whose phase compositions depend on the acting stresses and whose elastic moduli change with variation in the fraction of martensite are studied. Algorithms and results of solution of a number of beam bending problems are given. It is established that in coupled problems, the changes in the stress-strain state upon cooling proceed more smoothly than in uncoupled problems. This is due to the propagation of the front of the beginning of the transformation over the cross section. Overload of the outer layers of the beam and unloading of the inner layers of the beam are found to be related to the propagation of the front of completion of the transformation.