First-principles investigation on twin-related lattice reorientation in hexagonal metals and alloys

High-throughput ab initio calculations were employed to study the lattice reorientation process accompanying twinning under plastic deformation in hexagonal metals, as well as in alloyed Mg and Ti. The results indicate that, in unalloyed hexagonal metals, reorientation consumes the highest and lowest energies in Be and Mg, respectively, with intermediate energies in Sc, Co, Ti, Zr and Dy. The shuffle component always contributes a significant part of the reorientation energy in Mg, whereas in Ti with sufficient shear strain, subsequent reorientation process becomes energy downhill. In alloyed Mg and Ti, appropriate alloying significantly reduces the reorientation energy, and especially in alloyed Ti, there is significant negative correlation between the reorientation energy and certain properties of the alloying elements. The results are consistent with the fact that reorientation has been experimentally observed in compressed Mg nanopillars, but only in atomic scale simulations under high strain rate in Ti.