Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Σ5(210)/[001] Tilt Grain Boundary with Self-Interstitial Atoms by Molecular Dynamics Simulation

Authors

Liang Zhang, University of WollongongFollow
Cheng Lu, University of WollongongFollow
Linqing Pei, University of WollongongFollow
Xing Zhao, Central South UniversityFollow
Jie Zhang, University of WollongongFollow
Anh Kiet Tieu, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

115915

Publication Details

Zhang, L., Lu, C., Pei, L., Zhao, X., Zhang, J. & Tieu, K. (2017). Evaluation of Mechanical Properties of Σ5(210)/[001] Tilt Grain Boundary with Self-Interstitial Atoms by Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2017 8296458-1-8296458-11.

Abstract

Grain boundary (GB) can serve as an efficient sink for radiation-induced defects, and therefore nanocrystalline materials containing a large fraction of grain boundaries have been shown to have improved radiation resistance compared with their polycrystalline counterparts. However, the mechanical properties of grain boundaries containing radiation-induced defects such as interstitials and vacancies are not well understood. In this study, we carried out molecular dynamics simulations with embedded-atom method (EAM) potential to investigate the interaction of Σ5(210)/[001] symmetric tilt GB in Cu with various amounts of self-interstitial atoms. The mechanical properties of the grain boundary were evaluated using a bicrystal model by applying shear deformation and uniaxial tension. Simulation results showed that GB migration and GB sliding were observed under shear deformation depending on the number of interstitial atoms that segregated on the boundary plane. Under uniaxial tension, the grain boundary became a weak place after absorbing self-interstitial atoms where dislocations and cracks were prone to nucleate.