Grain size dependence of strength of nanocrystalline materials as exemplified by copper: an elastic-viscoplastic modelling approach

The purpose of this work is to model the mechanical behavior of nanocrystalline materials. Based on previous rigid viscoplastic models proposed by Kim et al. (Acta Mater, 48: 493, 2000) and Kim and Estrin (Acta Mater, 53: 765, 2005), the nanocrystalline material is described as a two phase composite material. Using the Taylor–Lin homogenisation scheme in order to account for elasticity, the yield stress of nanocrystalline materials can be evaluated. The transition from a Hall–Petch relation to an inverse Hall–Petch relation is defined and is related to a change in plastic deformation mode in the crystallite phase from a dislocation glide driven mechanism to a diffusion-controlled process.