Effect of internal stress on autocatalytic nucleation of martensitic transformation

On the basis of classical nucleation theory of martensitic transformation (MT), the effect of internal stress on autocatalytic nucleation of MT is quantitatively described. The complex stress field pictures outside a formed martensitic plate are first calculated through Eshelby's theory, and then the interaction energies between the martensitic plate and embryos with 24 possible variants can be further obtained. Based on the calculation of interaction energy, the effect of internal stress on autocatalytic nucleation of MT and morphological characteristics of martensite are explained. In this investigation, two kinds of alloys-non-thermoelastic materials (e.g., Fe-30Ni) and thermoelastic materials (e.g., Cu-46.6Zn)-are studied, and their difference in autocatalytic nucleation and morphological characteristics of martensite are indicated.