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Fracture behavior of precracked nanocrystalline materials with grain size gradients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 February 2015

Peng Wang ,
Xinhua Yang  and
Xiaobao Tian
Peng Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
Xinhua Yang*
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
Xiaobao Tian
Affiliation:
Department of Mechanics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: yangxinh@hust.edu.cn
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Abstract

The fracture behavior of precracked nanocrystals with grain size gradients is simulated using the molecular dynamics method. A large grain size gradient is found to elevate resistance to crack propagation and transform the fracture mode from intergranular to intragranular when the crack is obstructed by a coarse grain. But the intragranular crack is nipped in its bud due to the difficulty of intragranular fracture. However, intergranular fractures can be always kept in nanocrystals with a small grain size gradient. Both the Schmid factors for the slip systems of grains near the crack tip and the critical stress intensity factors are calculated, and energy partitioning is conducted to analyze the mechanisms behind this phenomenon. The research exhibits the key role of grain size gradient in improving the antifracture ability of nanocrystals.

Keywords

fracture behaviornanocrystalmolecular dynamics simulationgrain size gradient
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 30 , Issue 5 , 14 March 2015 , pp. 709 - 716
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2015 

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