Size-dependent geometrically necessary dislocation structures in single-crystalline tungsten

Abstract Wedge indentation experiments were conducted to study the depth dependence of geometrically necessary dislocation (GND) structures in single-crystalline tungsten. Single-crystalline tungsten exhibits a pronounced indentation size effect (ISE), which can be rationalized based on GNDs. The dislocation mechanisms, however, are still under debate. Due to the plane strain condition during the wedge indentation, the dislocations in the cross sections underneath indents could be analyzed based on the Nye tensor and the lattice rotations determined using transmission Kikuchi diffraction. The dislocation structures depend on the size of the indent confirming the different hardness regimes and the bilinear ISE reported recently. For shallow indents, the dislocations are rather localized at the tip of the indent, while with increasing depth the dislocation volume expands; subgrains and distinct rays of increased dislocation density form. At larger depths, the indentation-induced deformation fields exhibit characteristics similar to the kink-type shear at a stationary crack tip. Graphical abstract