Title screen

[References: 9 tit.]

The paper examines the regular features exhibited by transformation strain localization on macro- and mesoscale levels during cyclic loading for NiTi samples with two different surface states: the initial polished sample and the one subjected to ion implantation. The speckle photography method with speckle flicker rate measurement for image processing was used. It was shown that the initiation and the propagation of martensite, and hence the mechanical response are determined by the surface condition of the NiTi sample. Two scenarios of martensitic transformation were revealed: the heterogeneous diagonal transformation bands emerge across the sample with polished surface; a single front of the localized transformation in a Luders-like manner propagates through the sample with a modified surface.