Combined grain size, strain rate and loading condition effects on mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline Cu under high strain rates

Abstract

Molecular dynamics simulations of nanocrystalline Cu with average grain sizes of 3.1 nm, 6.2 nm, 12.4 nm and 18.6 nm under uniaxial strain and stress tension at strain rates of 108 s−1, 109 s−1 and 1010 s−1 are performed to study the combined grain size, strain rate and loading condition effects on mechanical properties. It is found that the strength of nanocrystalline Cu increases as grain size increases regardless of loading condition. Both the strength and ductility of nanocrystalline Cu increase with strain rate except that there is no monotonic relation between the strength and strain rate for specimens under uniaxial strain loading. Moreover, the strength and ductility of specimens under uniaxial strain loading are lower than those under uniaxial stress loading. The nucleation of voids at grain boundaries and their subsequent growth characterize the failure of specimens under uniaxial strain loading, while grain boundary sliding and necking dominate the failure of specimens under uniaxial stress loading. The rate dependent strength is mainly caused by the dynamic wave effect that limits dislocation motion, while combined twinning and slipping mechanism makes the material more ductile at higher strain rates.