Interactions of plasticity and phase transformation under shock in iron bicrystals

Abstract

The interaction of plasticity and martensitic transformation in iron bicrystals under shock has been investigated via nonequilibrium molecular-dynamic simulations with our modified analytic embedded-atom model potential. Our results show that grain boundaries (GBs) can change the kinetics of α → ɛ martensitic transformations. The condition that GBs trigger strain induced transformation (SIT) is revealed, that is, the local structure of GBs can be converted to a hexagonal close packing (HCP) lattice with a lower potential barrier than the BCC → HCP transformation (stress assist transformation, SAT) because the driving energy of transition can be partly provided by the energy of GBs. It can explain why the threshold of the phase transition can be greatly reduced in samples containing some types of GBs. The threshold of SIT is lower than that of SAT, which agrees well with experimental results. Then, the nucleation kinetics of phase transition induced by dislocations are described. The propagation of dislocation provides the driving force for the nucleation of the phase transition. The dislocations can be directly emitted from the GBs under shock, which provides a new view that the phase transition is not always preceded by dislocations near GBs. In addition, dislocations can be induced by pre-existing dislocations under shock, which makes it understandable that GBs can emit dislocations. Our findings have an important significance for experimental studies and macroscopic and mesoscopic scale simulations regarding iron martensitic transformation.