Low‐temperature anomalies in the plastic response of crystalline materials

Abstract

AbstractThe non‐uniform, wavy, temperature‐dependence of the yield‐stress and of the rate of logarithmic creep frequently observed in metals, alloys and non‐metallic crystalline solids at low temperature, is shown to be largely a consequence of the progressive inhibition of dynamic recovery processes as T → 0 K. Plastic deformation becomes increasingly localised, resulting in high stress‐concentrations. On allowing for this increase in the usual equations of the deformation kineties, the anomalies are very well accounted for.