Investigation of the feasibility of nickel-titanium shape memory alloys instead of traditional materials used in automotive door hinges

This thesis investigates the applicability of the superelastic properties of NiTi shape memory alloys in automotive door hinges, in comparison with conventional steel materials and by using numerical analysis methods. Owing to the superelastic phase transformation of NiTi, its high strain recovery capability and energy dissipation capacity are evaluated as an innovative alternative solution to problems such as permanent deformation, door sag, and increased clearance that may develop over time and under load in conventional steel hinges. In the study, different material configurations were modeled for the body leaf, door leaf and pin components of the door hinge, and door sag loading conditions were applied for scenarios in which each component was defined either as steel or NiTi. The simulation results show that the use of superelastic NiTi provides a superior deformation recovery capability in terms of structural performance compared to steel.