Fracture toughness and brittle-ductile transition controlled by grain boundary character distribution (GBCD) in polycrystals

Abstract

The structural dependence of intergranular fracture processes in bicrystals and polycrystals of metals and alloys is first reviewed. It is shown that even in polycrystals, grain boundary structure plays a significant role in controlling the fracture properties of the material. Next, we evaluate quantitatively the effect of different types, frequencies and configurations of grain boundaries, so-called the grain boundary character distribution (GBCD), on the toughness of a three-dimensional (3D) polycrystals. The results show that the toughness of a polycrystals increases monotonically with increasing overall fraction of fracture-resistant low-energy boundaries in the material. A brittle-ductile transition, corresponding to a change of fracture mode from predominantly intergranular with low toughness to predominantly transgranular with high toughness, is observed when the overall fraction of low-energy boundaries reaches a critical value. For a 3D polycrystals with a non-random GBCD such that the fraction of low-energy boundaries on the inclined boundary facets is maximised, a smaller critical overall fraction of low-energy boundaries is needed to bring about the brittle-ductile transition. Similar effect is also found if the grains are made elongated and aligned with the stress axis. The results are discussed in relation to the concept of grain boundary design for strong and tough polycrystals proposed by one of the present authors (T.W.).