High-resolution in-situ characterization of the surface evolution of a polycrystalline NiTi SMA-alloy under pseudoelastic deformation

► High local strain gradients are observed between highly misoriented grains. ► Pronounced surface alterations emerged across these boundaries. ► Roughness evolution induced highly localized strains in the vicinity of grain boundaries. ► EBSD at ε = 5.5% proved the existence of intergranular constraints.