Dear Jose Marques Basilio Sobrinho,

I am not sure if there is a simple and definite answer to your questions, as the description "best" is totally subjective. For example I use Abaqus since it provides me with the capability of creating a User MATerial (UMAT) subroutine that can implement any model as well as I can perform variations regarding the constitutive equations (a tutorial on how to write a UMAT or a VUMAT is available here: https://imechanica.org/files/Writing%20a%20UMAT.pdf ). As far as I am concerned ANSYS has built-in material models developed by Auricchio et al. (you can find more information here: https://www.sharcnet.ca/Software/Ansys/16.2.3/en-us/help/ans_mat/smas.html ). Finally, as far as I know, latest Nonlinear Structural Materials Module of COMSOL offers the capability to use the models of Lagoudas and Souza–Auricchio.

Kind regards,

Anargyros

Dear Jose Marques Basilio Sobrinho,

I am not sure if there is a simple and definite answer to your questions, as the description "best" is totally subjective. For example I use Abaqus since it provides me with the capability of creating a User MATerial (UMAT) subroutine that can implement any model as well as I can perform variations regarding the constitutive equations (a tutorial on how to write a UMAT or a VUMAT is available here: https://imechanica.org/files/Writing%20a%20UMAT.pdf ). As far as I am concerned ANSYS has built-in material models developed by Auricchio et al. (you can find more information here: https://www.sharcnet.ca/Software/Ansys/16.2.3/en-us/help/ans_mat/smas.html ). Finally, as far as I know, latest Nonlinear Structural Materials Module of COMSOL offers the capability to use the models of Lagoudas and Souza–Auricchio.

Kind regards,

Anargyros

Thanks for your response Anargyros A. Karakalas .

I have been working with ANSYS for some time.

I will check this UMAT capability on ABAQUS.

I have been used ABAQUS for my master thesis. In 6.17 or newer versions of ABAQUS you don't need to write subroutine (fiqure) . I'm abaqus and Ansys user and i prefer use abaqus for usual simulations such as bending or twisting problems and use ansys for fatigue or fracture of SMAs.

Hosein Tavangar, grateful for the information.

Just for balance MSC Nastran and Marc have specific shape memory alloy material definitions which mean you don't need to define your own UMAT's. I can't claim which is best.

I recommend ANSYS, because it is more precious and approximate, in calculating the nodal values of individual elements of various sizes and shapes..

If you use ansys, the equivalent for writing user subroutines in abaqus (Fortran) is Ansys mechanical APDL (ansys parametric design language) were you can skript custom material behavior as well

For me, Ansys is the best Finite Element Method (FEM) software for Shape Memory Alloy simulations

For me comsol multiphysics best for SMA simulation.

I guess the conclusion of this question is that everyone has their own favourite codes. My advice is to look at the capabilities you need and compare with the software capabilities, including looking at examples if provided. Think of the following.

1) can it do everything I need?

2) how easy is it to use?

3) Are there other capabilities I might want longer term?

Then use this to make your decision.

For the coupling of two or more physics go for Comsol. If u have predefiend physics in Abaqus/ Ansys then go for them because they have much better accuracy than Comsol.

Hosein Tavangar I am not understanding what temperature needed to be given in Superelastic properties and Loading, Unloading options after that.