Dynamics of strings made of phase-transforming materials

This paper presents a theory to describe the dynamical behavior of a string made of a phase-transforming material like a shape-memory alloy. The study of phase boundaries, the driving force acting on them and the kinetic relation governing their propagation is of central concern. The paper proposes a qualitative experimental test of the notion of a kinetic relation, as well as a simple experimental method for measuring it quantitatively. It presents a numerical method for studying general initial and boundary value problems in strings, and concludes by exploring the use of phase transforming strings to generate motion at very small scales.