Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 March 2011
The inuence of mesoscopic strain-rate uctuations on the n ucleation of localized deformation bands (PLC bands) in dynamically strain ageing materials is discussed. It is shown that uctuations ma y lead to a macroscopic localization of plastic ow even if linear stability analysis (LSA) of the macroscopic constitutiv e equations predicts stable deformation beha vior. The resulting quantitative corrections to linear stability analysis are evaluated, and implications for the reliabilit y of LSA results are discussed.