Effect of surface energy upon size-dependent yield strength of single-crystalline hollow micro- and nanopillars

Abstract

The physical nature of the size-dependent yield strength of micro- and nanopillars is still an open issue, where the surface energy may be one factor that influences the size effect of these pillars, especially for hollow pillars. In this study, the influence of the surface energy and surface elasticity upon the size-dependent yield strength of single-crystalline hollow micro- and nanopillars is considered quantitatively. An analytical expression of the size-dependent yield strength is established that considers the surface energy and the inner defects by the principle of minimum potential energy. The predicted yield strength of our model as a function of the pillar size is more precise than that of the well-known single arm source model when comparing the predictions with the experimental results of pillars made of Al or Ni. According to the surface elasticity, the surface energy can be determined by the thickness of the hollow pillars, the surface modulus and the surface strain, where the latter two are related to the external damages.