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Dr. Hamilton’s research group characterizes the micro- and macro-scale physical response of conventional, high-temperature, and ferromagnetic shape-memory alloys to thermo-mechanical stimuli utilizing advanced deformation measurement techniques and microstructure interrogations. The aim is to elucidate the martensitic phase transformation and physical behavior relationships for actuation, sensing, and damping applications. An interdisciplinary approach, including chemistry, material design via thermal and mechanical treatment, and experimental solid mechanics, is pursued in order to design and tailor the material response. The research will facilitate understanding of microstructure and atomic scale mechanisms which give rise to the bulk behavior, and thus advance predictive thermo-mechanical constitutive models that capture underlying physical mechanisms. Specifically, the following research topics are involved:

• Physical Behavior of Shape Memory Alloys
• Microstructure Characterization
• Underlying mechanisms-properties-processing relationships
• Thermal and Mechanical Activation of Martensitic Phase Transformation
• Experimental Solid Mechanics
• Micro-mechanical Constitutive Modeling of Martensitic Phase Transformation