MD simulations to evaluate effects of applied tensile strain on irradiation-induced defect production at various PKA energies

Abstract

Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted to investigate the influence of applied tensile strain on defect production during cascade damages at various Primary Knock-on Atom (PKA) energies of 1–30keV. When 1% strain was applied, the number of surviving defects increased at PKA energies higher than 5keV, although they did not increase at 1keV. The rate of increase by strain application was higher with higher PKA energy, and attained the maximum at 20keV PKA energy with a subsequent gradual decrease at 30keV PKA energy The cluster size, mostly affected by strain, was larger with higher PKA energy, although clusters with fewer than seven interstitials did not increase in number at any PKA energy.