Investigation of Superelasticity of Iron based Shape Memory Alloy

Iron-based shape memory alloys (Fe-SMAs) have recently attracted significant attention as cost-effective and mechanically robust alternatives to conventional Ni–Ti alloys for smart structural and engineering applications. This study investigates the superelastic behavior of an iron-based shape memory alloy through systematic mechanical characterization under controlled loading–unloading conditions. Uniaxial tensile tests were conducted to evaluate stress–strain response, reversible strain capacity, critical transformation stresses, and hysteresis behavior associated with stress-induced martensitic transformation and reverse transformation. The influence of cyclic loading on superelastic stability, energy dissipation, and residual strain accumulation was also examined. Microstructural observations were correlated with mechanical responses to elucidate the role of phase transformation mechanisms in governing superelastic performance. The results demonstrate that the investigated Fe-based alloy exhibits pronounced superelasticity with substantial recoverable strain and stable cyclic behavior, highlighting its potential for applications in vibration control, seismic damping, and adaptive structural components. The findings provide fundamental insight into the deformation and recovery mechanisms of Fe-based SMAs and contribute to the development of reliable, large-scale superelastic materials for civil and mechanical engineering systems.