Intergranular fracture in nanocrystalline metals
Abstract
Crack propagation studies in nanocrystalline Ni samples with mean grain sizes ranging from 5 to 12 nm are reported using atomistic simulations. For all grain sizes pure intergranular fracture is observed. Intergranular fracture is shown to proceed by the coalescence of microvoids formed at the grain boundaries ahead of the crack. The energy released during propagation is higher than the Griffith value, indicating an additional grain-boundary accommodation mechanism.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review B
- Pub Date:
- August 2002
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2002PhRvB..66f0101F
- Keywords:
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- 62.20.-x;
- 61.72.Mm;
- 62.25.+g;
- Mechanical properties of solids;
- Grain and twin boundaries;
- Mechanical properties of nanoscale materials