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The present paper proposes a 3D small strain constitutive model for thermo-responsive shape memory polymers (SMPs). The model is based on the laws of thermodynamics and derived through a phase transition approach which assumes SMPs consisting of two phases (rubbery phase and glassy phase). The total strain of SMPs is decomposed into four parts and the fulfillment of Clausius-Duhem inequality for arbitrary thermodynamic process is checked. To validate the developed constitutive model, complete shape memory cycles are simulated with ABAQUS and the simulation results are compared with experimental data. At last, a numerical test is conducted to assess the effectiveness of the constitutive model in complicated boundary conditions.

Shape memory polymers; Constitutive model; Simulation; Thermodynamics