PLASTIC DEFORMATION

Mechanisms of Plastic Deformation

The Uniaxial Tension Test

Mechanisms of Plastic Deformation

Mechanical Metallurgy
George E Dieter
McGraw-Hill Book Company, London (1988)

If failure is considered as change in desired performance*- which could involve changes in

properties and/or shape; then failure can occur by many mechanisms as below.

Mechanisms / Methods by which a can Material can FAIL

Elastic deformation

Plastic
deformation

Fatigue
Fracture

Twinning
Slip

Chemical /
Electro-chemical
degradation

Creep

Microstructural
changes
Twinning

Wear

Corrosion

Phase transformations
Grain growth
Particle coarsening

* Beyond a certain limit

Physical
degradation

Oxidation

Erosion

 Plastic deformation in the broadest sense means permanent deformation in the absence
of external constraints (forces, displacements) (i.e. external constraints are removed).
Plastic deformation of crystalline materials takes place by mechanisms which are very
different from that for amorphous materials (glasses). The current chapter will focus on plastic
deformation of crystalline materials. Glasses deform by shear banding etc. below the glass transition temperature
(Tg) and by flow above Tg.

Though plasticity by slip is the most important mechanism of plastic deformation, there
are other mechanisms as well. Many of these mechanisms may act in
conjunction/parallel to give rise to the observed plastic deformation.

Plastic Deformation in Crystalline Materials

Slip
(Dislocation
motion)

Twinning

Phase Transformation

Creep Mechanisms

Grain boundary sliding

+ Other Mechanisms
Vacancy diffusion

Grain rotation

Dislocation climb

Note: Plastic deformation in amorphous materials occur by other mechanisms including flow (~viscous fluid) and shear
banding

Review

Tension / Compression

Common types of deformation

Modes
of
Deformation

Tension/Compression
Bending
Shear
Torsion

Bending
Shear
Torsion

Bending

Deformed configuration

Shear

Tension

Compression

Note: modes of deformation in other contexts will be defined in the topic on plasticity

Torsion

Peak ahead
In addition to the modes of deformation considered before the following modes can be
defined w.r.t fracture.
Fracture can be cause by the propagation of a pre-existing crack (e.g. the notches shown in
the figures below) or by the nucleation of a crack during deformation followed by its
propagation.
In fracture the elastic energy stored in the material is used for the creation of new surfaces
(when the crack nucleates/propagates)

Mode I
Modes
of
Deformation

Mode II
Mode III

The Uniaxial Tension Test (UTT)

One of the simplest test which can performed to evaluate the mechanical properties of a
material is the Uniaxial Tension Test.
This is typically performed on a cylindrical specimen with a standard gauge length. (At
constant temperature and strain rate).
The test involves pulling a material with increasing load (force) and noting the elongation
(displacement) of the specimen.
Data acquired from such a test can be plotted as: (i) load-stroke (raw data), (ii) engineering
stress- engineering strain, (iii) true stress- true strain. (next slide).
It is convenient to use Engineering Stress (s) and Engineering Strain (e) as defined below
as we can divide the load and change in length by constant quantities (A0 and L0).
Subscripts 0 refer to initial values and i to instantaneous values.
But there are problems with the use of s and e (as outlined in the coming slides) and
hence we define True Stress () and True Strain () (wherein we use instantaneous values
of length and area).
Though this is simple test to conduct and a wealth of information about the mechanical
behaviour of a material can be obtained (Modulus of elasticity, ductility etc.) However,
it must be cautioned that this data should be used with caution under other states of stress.

P
s
A0

L
e
L0

0 initial
Subscript
i instantaneous

Note: quantities obtained by performing an

Uniaxial Tension Test are valid only under
uniaxial state of stress

Load

The Tensile Stress-Strain Curve

Tensile specimen

Stroke

Possible axes

Gauge Length L0

Important Note

We shall assume cylindrical specimens (unless otherwise stated)

Initial cross sectional area A0

Problem with engineering Stress (s) and Strain (e)!!

Consider the following sequence of deformations:
1

L0

e12 = 1
e13 = 0

2L0

[e12 + e23] =
e23 =

L0

It is clear that from stage 1 3 there is no strain

But the decomposition of the process into 1 2 & 2 3 gives a net strain of
Clearly there is a problem with the use (definition) of Engineering strain
Hence, a quantity known as True Strain is preferred (along with True Stress) as
defined in the next slide.

True Stress () and Strain ()

The definitions of true stress and true strain are based on instantaneous values of area (Ai)
and length (Li).

Ai

dL
L

ln
L
L0
L0
Ai instantaneous area

P
A0

L
L0

Same sequence of deformations considered before:

1

L0

12 = Ln(2)
13 = 0

2L0

[ 12 + 23] = 0
23 = Ln(2)

L0

With true strain things turn out the way they should!

Schematic s-e and - curves

These are simplified schematics which are close to the

curves obtained for some metallic materials like Al, Cu
etc. (polycrystalline materials at room temperature).
Many materials (e.g. steel) may have curves which are
qualitatively very different from these schematics.
Most ceramics are brittle with very little plastic
deformation.
Even these diagrams are not to scale as the strain at
yield is ~0.001 (eelastic ~103)
[E is measured in GPa and y in MPa thus giving
this small strains]
the linear portion is practically vertical and stuck to
the Y-axis (when efracture and eelastic is drawn to the same
scale).
Note the increasing stress required
for continued plastic deformation

Schematics: not to scale

Information gained from the test:
(i) Youngs modulus
(ii) Yield stress (or proof stress)
(iii) Ultimate Tensile Stress (UTS)
(iv) Fracture stress

Neck

UTS- Ultimate Tensile Strength

Subscripts:
y- yield, F,f- fracture,
u- uniform (for strain)/ultimate (for stress)
Points and regions of the curves are explained in the next slide

Sequence of events during the tension test

O unloaded specimen
OY Elastic Linear Region in the plot (macroscopic linear elastic region)
Y macroscopic yield point (there are many measures of yielding as discussed later)
Occurs due to collective motion of many dislocations.
YF Elastic + Plastic regime
If specimen is unloaded from any point in this region, it will unload parallel to OY and the
elastic strain would be recovered. Actually, more strain will be recovered than unloading from Y
(and hence in some sense in the region YF the sample is more elastic than in the elastic region
OY).
In this region the material strain hardens flow stress increases with strain.
This region can further be split into YN and NF as below.
YN Stable region with uniform deformation along the gauge length
N Instability in tension Onset of necking
True condition of uniaxiality broken onset of triaxial state of stress (loading remains uniaxial
but the state of stress in the cylindrical specimen is not).
NF most of the deformation is localized at the neck
Specimen in a triaxial state of stress
F Fracture of specimen (many polycrystalline materials like Al show cup and cone fracture)
Notes:
In the - plot there is no distinct point N and there is no drop in load (as instantaneous area has been taken into account in the definition of
) in the elastic + plastic regime (YF)
The stress is monotonically increasing in the region YF true indicator of strain hardening

Comparison between Engineering and True quantities:

In engineering stress since we are dividing by a constant number A0 (and there is a local
reduction in area around the neck)
Engineering and true values are related by the equations as below.
At low strains (in the uniaxial tension test) either of the values work fine.
As we shall see that during the tension test localized plastic deformation occurs after some
strain (called necking). This leads to inhomogeneity in the stress across the length of the
sample and under such circumstances true stress should be used.
From volume constancy A 0 L0 =A i Li

P
Ai

L
L

P A0
s i s 1 i 1 s(1 e)
A0 Ai
L0
L0

dL
L

ln
L
L0
L0

A0 Li

Ai L0

ln 1

s( 1 e)
ln ( 1 e)

L
1 ln(1+e)
L0

Valid till
necking starts

Comparison between true strain and engineering strain

True strain ()

0.01 0.10

0.20

0.50

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

Engineering strain (e)

0.01 0.105

0.22

0.65

1.72

6.39

19.09

53.6

Note that for strains of about 0.4, true and engineering strains can be assumed to be equal. At large strains the
deviations between the values are large.

Where does Yielding start?

Yielding can be defined in many contexts.
Truly speaking (microscopically) it is point at which dislocations
leave the crystal (grain) and cause microscopic plastic deformation
(of unit b) this is best determined from microstrain (~106 )
experiments on single crystals. However, in practical terms it is
determined from the stress-strain plot (by say an offset as described
below).
True elastic limit (microscopically and macroscopically elastic
where in there is not even microscopic yielding) Microscopic
elastic
~106 [OA portion of the curve]
Microscopically plastic but macroscopically elastic
Macroscopic
[AY portion of the curve] elastic
Proportional limit the point at which there is a deviation from the
straight line elastic regime
Offset Yield Strength (proof stress) A curve is drawn parallel to
the elastic line at a given strain like 0.2% (= 0.002) to determine the
yield strength.
In some materials (e.g. pure annealed Cu, gray cast iron etc.) the linear portion of the curve
may be limited and yield strength may arbitrarily determined as the stress at some given
strain (say 0.005).

Important Note
y is yield stress in an uniaxial tension test and should not be used in other states of stress
(other criteria of yield should be used for a generalized state of stress).
Tresca and von Mices criterion are the two most popular ones.

What is meant by ductility?

Slip is competing with other processes which can lead to failure.

In simple terms a ductile material is one which yields before failure (i.e. y < f).
Ductility depends on the state of stress used during deformation.
We can obtain an measure of the ductility of a material from the uniaxial tension test as
follows (by putting together the fractured parts to make the measurement):
Strain at fracture (ef) (usually expressed as %), (often called elongation, although it is a dimensionless quantity)
Reduction in area at fracture (q) (usually expressed as %)

e f (%)

L f L0
L0

100

q(%)

A0 Af
A0

100

Note: this is ductility in

Uniaxial Tension Test

q is a better measure of ductility as it does not depend on the gauge length (L0); while, ef
depends on L0. Elongation/strain to necking (uniform elongation) can also be used to avoid
the complication arising from necking.
L L0
eu (%) u
100
L0
Also, q is a more structure sensitive ductility parameter.
Sometimes it is easier to visualize elongation as a measure of ductility rather than a
reduction in area. For this the calculation has be based on a very short gauge length in the
necked region called Zero-gauge-length elongation (e0). e0 can be calculated from q
using constancy of volume in plastic deformation (AL=A0L0).

e0

q
1 q

L A0
1

L0
A 1 q

e0

L L0 A0
1
q

1
1
L0
A
1 q
1 q

Comparison between reduction in area versus strain at fracture

We had seen two measures of ductility:
Strain at fracture (ef)
Reduction in area at fracture (q)

ef

L f L0
L0

A0 Af
A0

We had also seen that these can be related mathematically as: e q

0
1 q
However, it should be noted that they represent different aspects of material behaviour.
For reasonable gauge lengths, e is dominated by uniform elongation prior to necking and thus is
dependent on the strain hardening capacity of the material (more the strain hardening, more will be the
e). Main contribution to q (area based calculation) comes from the necking process (which is more
geometry dependent).
Hence, reduction in area is not truly a material property and has geometry dependence.

What happens after necking?

Following factors come in to picture due to necking:
Till necking the deformation is ~uniform along the whole gauge length.
Till necking points on the - plot lie to the left and higher than the s-e plot (as below).
After the onset of necking deformation is localized around the neck region.
Formulae used for conversion of e to and s to cannot be used after the onset of
necking. s( 1 e) ln ( 1 e)
Triaxial state of stress develops and uniaxiality condition assumed during the test breaks
down.
Necking can be considered as an instability in tension.
Hence, quantities calculated after the onset of necking (like fracture stress, F) has to be
corrected for: (i) triaxial state of stress, (ii) correct cross sectional area.

Neck

Fractured surfaces

True values beyond necking

Calculation of true strain beyond necking:
True strain values beyond necking can be obtained by using the concept of zero-gaugelength elongation (e0). This involves measurement of instantaneous area.

ln ( 1 e) Beyond necking 0 ln( 1 e0 )

q

A0 Ai
A0

e0

q
1 q

1
q
0 ln 1

ln

1 q
1 q

Note: Further complications arise at strains close to fracture as microvoid nucleation & growth
take place and hence all formulations based on continuum approach (e.g. volume
constancy) etc. are not valid anymore.

Cotd..

True values beyond necking

Calculation of true Stress beyond necking:

Neck acts like a diffuse notch. This produces a triaxial state of stress (radial and transverse
components of stress exist in addition to the longitudinal component) this raises the
value of the longitudinal stress required to case plastic flow.
Using certain assumptions (as below) some correction to the state of stress can be made*
(given that the state of stress is triaxial, such a correction should be viewed appropriately).
Assumptions used in the correction*: neck is circular (radius = R), von Mises criterion
can be used for yielding, strains are constant across the neck.
The corrected uniaxial stress (uniaxial) is calculated from the stress from the experiment
(exp=Load/Alocal), using the formula as below.
The Correction

uniaxial

exp
a
2R
1
ln 1

A 2 R

* P.W. Bridgman, Trans. Am. Soc. Met. 32 (1944) 553.

Fracture stress and fracture strain

The tensile specimen fails by cup & cone fracture
wherein outer regions fail by shear and inner regions in tension.
Fracture strain (ef) is often used as a measure of ductility.

Calculation of fracture stress/strain:

To calculate true fracture stress (F) we need the area at fracture (which is often not readily
available and often the data reported for fracture stress could be in error).
Further, this fracture stress has to be corrected for triaxiality.
True strain at fracture can be calculated from the areas as below.

Pf
Af

A0
f ln
Af

1
ln

1 q f

Unloading the specimen during the tension test

If the specimen is unloaded beyond the yield point (say point X in figure below), elastic
strain is recovered (while plastic strain is not). The unloading path is XM.
Y
The strain recovered ( elastic
) is more than that recovered if the specimen was to be
X
unloaded from Y ( elastic
) i.e. in this sense the material is more elastic in the plastic
region (in the presence of work hardening), than in the elastic region!
If the specimen is reloaded it will follow the reverse path and yielding will start at ~X.
Because of strain hardening* the yield strength of the specimen is higher.
* Strain Hardening is also called work hardening
The material becomes harder with plastic deformation
(on tensile loading the present case)
We will see later that strain hardening is usually caused
by multiplication of dislocations.
If one is given a material which is at point M, then the
Yield stress of such a material would be ~X (i.e. as we
dont know the prior history of the specimen loading,
we would call ~X as yield stress of the specimen).
The blue part of the curve is also called the flow stress

Variables in plastic deformation

, , , T

In the tension experiment just described the temperature (T) is usually kept constant and
the sample is pulled (between two crossheads of a UTM) at a constant velocity. The
crosshead velocity can be converted to strain rate ( ) using the gauge length (L0) of the
specimen. v / L0
At low temperatures (below the recrystallization temperature of the material, T < 0.4Tm)
the material hardens on plastic deformation (YF in the - plot known as work
hardening or strain hardening). The net strain is an important parameter under such
circumstances and the material becomes a partial store of the deformation energy provided.
The energy is essentially stored in the form of dislocations and point defects.
If deformation is carried out at high temperatures (above the recrystallization temperature;
wherein, new strain free grains are continuously forming as the deformation proceeds),
strain rate becomes the important parameter instead of net strain.
Range of strain rates obtained in various experiments
Test

Range of strain rate

(/s)

Creep tests

108 to 105

Quasi-static tension tests (in an UTM)

105 to 101

Dynamic tension tests

101 to 102

High strain rate tests using impact bars

102 to 104

Explosive loading using projectiles (shock tests)

104 to 108

 In the - plot the plastic stress and strain are usually expressed by the expression given
below. Where, n is the strain hardening exponent and K is the strength coefficient.

Usually expressed as (for plastic)

plastic K plastic n
,T

Deviations from this behaviour often observed (e.g. in Austenitic stainless steel) at low
strains (~103) and/or at high strains (~1.0). Other forms of the power law equation are also
considered in literature (e.g. y K plastic n ).
An ideal plastic material (without strain hardening) would begin to neck right at the onset
of yielding. At low temperatures (below recrystallization temperature- less than about
0.5Tm) strain hardening is very important to obtain good ductility. This can be understood
from the analysis of the results of the uniaxial tension test. During tensile deformation
instability in the form of necking localizes deformation to a small region (which now
experiences a triaxial state of stress). In the presence of strain hardening the neck portion
(which has been strained more) hardens and the deformation is spread to other regions,
thus increasing the ductility obtained.

For an experiment done in shear on single crystals the equivalent region to OY can further
be subdivided into:
True elastic strain (microscopic) till the true elastic limit (E)
Onset of microscopic plastic deformation above a stress of A.
For Mo a comparison of these quantities is as follows: E = 0.5 MPa, A = 5 MPa and
0 (macroscopic yield stress in shear) = 50 MPa.

Variables/parameters in mechanical testing

Process parameters (characterized by parameters inside the sample)
Mode of deformation, Sample dimensions, Stress, Strain, Strain Rate,
Temperature etc.
Material parameters
Crystal structure, Composition, Grain size, dislocation density, etc.

 , , , T

Variables in plastic deformation

K n ,T

K strength coefficient
n strain / work hardening coefficient
Cu and brass (n ~ 0.5) can be given large plastic strain more
easily as compared to steels with n ~ 0.15

When true strain is less than 1, the smaller value of n dominates over a larger value of n

n and K for selected materials

ln

ln

,T

Material

K (MPa)

Annealed Cu

0.54

320

Annealed Brass (70/30)

0.49

900

Annealed 0.5% C steel

0.26

530

0.6% carbon steel

Quenched and Tempered (540C)

0.10

1570

 At high temperatures (above recrystallization temperature) where strain rate is the

important parameter instead of strain, a power law equation can be written as below
between stress and strain rate.

A m ,T

The effect of strain rate is compared by performing tests to a

constant strain

ln
m

ln

A a constant
,T
m index of strain rate sensitivity
If m = 0 stress is independent of strain rate (stress-strain
curve would be same for all strain rates)
m ~ 0.2 for common metals
If m (0.4, 0.9) the material may exhibit superplastic behaviour
m = 1 material behaves like a viscous liquid (Newtonian flow)
Thermal softening coefficient () is also defined as below:

ln

ln T

Funda Check

What is the important of m and n

We have seen that below recrystallization temperature n is the important parameter.

Above recrystallization temperature it is m which is important.
We have also noted that it is necking which limits the ductility in uniaxial tension.
Necking implies that there is locally more deformation (strain) and the strain rate is also
higher locally.
Hence, if the locally deformed material becomes harder (stronger) then the deformation
will spread to other regions along the gauge length and we will obtain more ductility.
Hence having a higher value of n or m is beneficial for obtaining good ductility.

Plastic deformation by slip

Click here to see overview of mechanisms/modes of plastic deformation

As we noted in the beginning of the chapter plastic deformation can occur by many
mechanisms SLIP is the most important of them. At low temperatures (especially in
BCC metals) twinning may also be come important.
At the fundamental level plastic deformation (in crystalline materials) by slip involves the
motion of dislocations on the slip plane finally leaving the crystal/grain* (creating a
step of Burgers vector).
Slip is caused by shear stresses (at the level of the slip plane). Hence, a purely hydrostatic
state of stress cannot cause slip (or twinning for that matter).
A slip system consists of a slip direction lying on a slip plane.
Under any given external loading conditions, slip will be initiated on a particular slip
system if the Resolved Shear Stress (RSS)** exceeds a critical value [the Critical Resolved
Shear Stress (CRSS)].
For slip to occur in polycrystalline materials, 5 independent slip systems are required.
Hence, materials which are ductile in single crystalline form, may not be ductile in
polycrystalline form. CCP crystals (Cu, Al, Au) have excellent ductility.
At higher temperatures more slip systems may become active and hence polycrystalline
materials which are brittle at low temperature, may become ductile at high temperature.

* Leaving the crystal part is important

** To be defined soon

Slip systems
In CCP, HCP materials the slip system consists of a close packed direction on a close packed plane.
Just the existence of a slip system does not guarantee slip slip is competing against other processes
like twinning and fracture. If the stress to cause slip is very high (i.e. CRSS is very high), then fracture
may occur before slip (like in brittle ceramics).

Crystal

Slip plane(s)

Slip direction

Number of slip systems

FCC

{111}

<110>

12

HCP

(0001)

<1120>

BCC
Not close packed

{110}, {112}, {123}

[111]

12

NaCl
Ionic

{110}

<110>

<110>

12

C
Diamond cubic

{111} not a slip plane

{111}

More examples of slip systems

Crystal

Slip plane(s)

Slip direction

Slip systems

TiO2
Rutile

{101}

<101>

CaF2, UO2, ThO2

Fluorite

{001}

<110>

CsCl
B2

{110}

NaCl, LiF, MgO

Rock Salt

{110}

<110>

C, Ge, Si
Diamond cubic

{111}

<110>

12

MgAl2O4
Spinel

{111}

<110>

Al2O3
Hexagonal

(0001)

<1120>

<001>

More examples of slip systems

Crystal

Slip plane(s)

Slip direction (b)

Slip systems

Cu (FCC)
Fm 3m

{111}

(a/2)< 1 10>

4 x 3 = 12

W (BCC)
Im 3m

{011}
{112}
{123}

(a/2)<11 1>

6 x 2 = 12
12 x 1 = 12
24 x 1 = 24

Mg (HCP)
P63/mmc

{0001}
{10 10}
{10 11}

(a/3)<1120>

1x3=3
3x1=3
6x1=6

Al2O3
R 3c

{0001}
{10 10}

(a/3)<1120>

1x3=3
3x1=3

NaCl
Fm 3m

{110}
{001}

(a/2)< 1 10>

6x1=6
6x1=6

CsCl
Pm 3m

{110}

a<001>

6x1=6

Polyethylene
Pnam

(100)
{110}
(010)

c<001>

1x1=1
2x1=2
1x1=1

Critical Resolved Shear Stress (CRSS)

What is the connection between Peierls stress and CRSS?

As we saw plastic deformation by slip is due to shear stresses.

Even if we apply an tensile force on the specimen the shear stress resolved onto the slip
plane is responsible for slip.
When the Resolved Shear Stress (RSS) reaches a critical value Critical Resolved Shear
Stress (CRSS) plastic deformation starts (The actual Schmids law)

Force
Stress

Area 1D

Slip plane
normal

F Cos

A
/
Cos

F

A
Slip direction

RSS Cos Cos

Schmid factor

A
A'

Cos
Note externally only tensile
forces are being applied

Schmids law
Slip is initiated when

RSS CRSS

CRSS is a material parameter, which is determined from experiments

CRSS
Yield strength of a single crystal y
Cos Cos

How does the motion of dislocations lead to a macroscopic shape change?

(From microscopic slip to macroscopic deformation a first feel!)
When one bents a rod of aluminium to a new shape, it involves processes occurring at
various lengthscales and understanding these is an arduous task.
However, at the fundamental level slip is at the heart of the whole process.
To understand how slip can lead to shape change?; we consider a square crystal
deformed to a rhombus (as Below).

Net shape change

Dislocation
formed by
pushing in
a plane

Step formed
when dislocation
leaves the crystal

Now visualize dislocations being punched in on successive planes moving and finally
leaving the crystal

This sequence of events finally leads to deformed shape which can be approximated to a
rhombus

Net shape change

Stress to move a dislocation: Peierls Nabarro (PN) stress

We have seen that there is a critical stress required to move a dislocation.
At the fundamental level the motion of a dislocation involves the rearrangement of bonds
requires application of shear stress on the slip plane.
When sufficient stress is applied the dislocation moves from one metastable energy
minimum to another.
The original model is due to Peierls & Nabarro (formula as below) and the sufficient stress
which needs to be applied is called Peierls-Nabarro stress (PN stress) or simply Peierls stress.
Width of the dislocation is considered as a basis for the ease of motion of a dislocation in the
model which is a function of the bonding in the material.

PN G e

2w

G shear modulus of the crystal

w width of the dislocation !!!
b |b|

Click here to know more about Peierls Stress

How to increase the strength?

We have seen that slip of dislocations weakens the crystal. Hence we have two strategies to
strengthen the crystal/material:
completely remove dislocations difficult, but dislocation free whiskers have been
produced (however, this is not a good strategy as dislocations can nucleate during loading)
increase resistance to the motion of dislocations or put impediments to the motion of
dislocations this can be done in many ways as listed below.
Solid solution strengthening (by adding interstitial and substitutional alloying elements).
Cold Work increase point defect and dislocation density
(Cold work increases Yield stress but decreases the % elongation, i.e. ductility).
Decrease in grain size grain boundaries provide an impediment ot the motion of
dislocations (Hall-Petch hardening).
Precipitation/dispersion hardening introduce precipitates or inclusions in the path of
dislocations which impede the motion of dislocations.

Strengthening mechanisms

Solid solution

Precipitate
&
Dispersoid

Forest dislocation

Grain boundary

Applied shear stress vs internal opposition

PN stress is the bare minimum stress required for plastic deformation. Usually there will be
other sources of opposition/impediment to the motion of dislocations in the material. Some of
these include :
Stress fields of other dislocations
Stress fields from coherent/semicoherent precipitates
Stress fields from low angle grain boundaries
Grain boundaries
Effect of solute atoms and vacancies
Stacking Faults
Twin boundaries
Phonon drag
etc.
Some of these barriers (the short range obstacles) can be overcome by thermal activation
(while other cannot be- the long range obstacles).
These factors lead to the strengthening of the material.

Applied shear stress ()

Internal resisting stress (i)

Classification of the obstacles to motion of a dislocation

Based of if the obstacle can be

overcome by thermal activation

Athermal f (T, strain rate)

These arise from long range internal stress fields
Sources:
Stress fields of other dislocations
Incoherent precipitates

Long range obstacles (G)

Note: G has some temperature

dependence as G decreases with T

Internal resisting stress (i)

Short range obstacles (T)

Thermal = f (T, strain rate)
Short range ~ 10 atomic diameters
T can help dislocations overcome these obstacles
Sources:
Peierls-Nabarro stress
Stress fields of coherent precipitates & solute atoms

Effect of Temperature
Motion of a dislocation can be assisted by thermal energy.
However, motion of dislocations by pure thermal activation is random.
A dislocation can be thermally activated to cross the potential barrier Q to the
neighbouring metastable position.
Strain rate can be related to the temperature (T) and Q as in the equation below.
This thermal activation reduces the Yield stress (or flow stress).
Materials which are brittle at room temperature may also become ductile at high
temperatures.

Ae

kT

d
Strain rate
dt

Equilibrium positions of a dislocation

Metallic
Ionic
Fe-BCC

Fe

Cu-FCC

Yield Stress (MPa)

W-BCC

Ni-FCC

Very high temperatures

needed for thermal activation
to have any effect

450

Al2O3
Si

300
18-8 SS
150

Ni
Cu

0.0
RT is like HT and P-N
stress is easily overcome

0.2
0.4
T/Tm

0.6

Covalent

What causes Strain hardening? multiplication of dislocations

Strain hardening
Annealed material

dislocation ~ (10 10 )
6

Cold work

Stronger material

dislocation ~ (1012 1014 )

Why increase in dislocation density ?

Why strain hardening ?

This implies some sources of dislocation

multiplication / creation should exist

If dislocations were to leave the surface

of the crystal by slip / glide then the
dislocation density should decrease
on plastic deformation
but observation is contrary to this

Dislocation sources
It is difficult to obtain crystals without dislocations (under special conditions whiskers have
been grown without dislocations).
Dislocation can arise by/form:
Solidification (errors in the formation of a perfect crystal lattice)
Plastic deformation (nucleation and multiplication)
Irradiation

Some specific sources/methods of formation/multiplication of dislocations include

Solidification from the melt

Grain boundary ledges and step emit dislocations
Aggregation and collapse of vacancies to form a disc or prismatic loop (FCC Frank
partials)
High stresses
Heterogeneous nucleation at second phase particles
During phase transformation
Frank-Read source
Orowan bowing mechanism

Strain hardening
We had noted that stress to cause further plastic deformation (flow stress) increases with
strain strain hardening. This happens at
Dislocations moving in non-parallel slip planes can intersect with each other results in an
increase in stress required to cause further plastic deformation Strain Hardening / work
hardening
One such mechanism by which the dislocation is immobilized is the Lomer-Cottrell barrier.

Dynamic recovery
In single crystal experiments the rate of strain hardening decreases with
further strain after reaching a certain stress level
At this stress level screw dislocations are activated for cross-slip
The RSS on the new slip plane should be enough for glide

[ 1 1 0]
2
(111)

[1 0 1]
2
( 1 11)

Formation of the Lomer-Cottrell barrier

[0 11]
2
(100)

[ 1 1 0]
2
(111)

[1 0 1]
2
( 1 11)

[0 11]
2
(100)

[0 1 1]

Lomer-Cottrell barrier
The red and green dislocations attract each other and move towards their line of intersection
They react as above to reduce their energy and produce the blue dislocation
The blue dislocation lies on the (100) plane which is not a close packed plane
hence immobile acts like a barrier to the motion of other dislocations

Impediments (barriers) to dislocation motion

Grain boundary
Immobile (sessile) dislocations
Lomer-Cottrell lock
Frank partial dislocation
Twin boundary
Precipitates and inclusions

Dislocations get piled up at a barrier and produce a back stress

Stress to move a dislocation & dislocation density

Empirical relation

0 A

0 base stress to move a dislocation in the crystal

in the absence of other dislocations
Dislocation density
A A constant

as (cold work) (i.e. strain hardening)

(MN / m2)

( m/ m3)

0 (MN / m2)

A (N/m)

1.5

1010

0.5

10

100

1014

0.5

10

COLD WORK
strength
ductility

Grain size and strength

k
y i
d

Hall-Petch Relation
y Yield stress [N/m2]
i Stress to move a dislocation in single crystal [N/m2]
k Locking parameter [N/m3/2]
(measure of the relative hardening contribution of grain boundaries)

d Grain diameter [m]

Grain size

645
d
(2n1 )1010

d Grain diameter in meters

n ASTM grain size number

Effect of solute atoms on strengthening

Solid solutions offer greater resistance to dislocation motion than pure crystals (even solute
with a lower strength gives strengthening!)
The stress fields around solute atoms interact with the stress fields around the dislocation to
leading to an increase in the stress required for the motion of a dislocation
The actual interaction between a dislocation and a solute is much more complex
The factors playing an important role are:
Size of the solute more the size difference, more the hardening effect
Elastic modulus of the solute (higher the elastic modulus of the solute greater the
strengthening effect)
e/a ratio of the solute
A curved dislocation line configuration is required for the solute atoms to provide hindrance
to dislocation motion
As shown in the plots in the next slide, increased solute concentration leads to an increased
hardening. However, this fact has to be weighed in the backdrop of solubility of the solute.
Carbon in BCC Fe has very little solubility (~0.08 wt.%) and hence the approach of pure
solid solution strengthening to harden a material can have a limited scope.

Size effect

Size difference

Size effect depends on:

For the same size difference the

smaller atom gives a greater
strengthening effect

Concentration of the solute (c)

200 Sn (1.51)

y (MPa)

150

~c
y

Matrix: Cu (r = 1.28 )
Be (1.12)
Solute strengthening of Cu crystal
by solutes of different sizes

100
Zn (1.31)

50
(Values in parenthesis are atomic radius values in )

Solute Concentration (Atom %)

40
20
10
30
0

By i (lattice friction)
X

level of - curve

Often produce Yield Point Phenomenon

Solute atoms

Relative strengthening effect of Interstitial and Substitutional atoms

Interstitial solute atoms have a non-spherical distortion field and can elastically interact
with both edge and screw dislocations. Hence they give a higher hardening effect (per unit
concentration) as compared to substitutional atoms which have (approximately) a
spherical distortion field.

Relative strengthening effect / unit concentration

Interstitial

Non spherical distortion field

3Gsolute

Solute atoms
Substitutional

field
Spherical
distortion

Gsolute / 10

Elastic
Long range
(T insensitive)

Interstitial Edge and screw dl.

Substitutional edge

Modulus
Long range order
Mechanisms of interaction of
dislocations with solute atoms

Solute-dislocation interaction
Stacking fault
Short range
(T sensitive)

Electrical

Short range order

The hardening effect of precipitates

Precipitates may be coherent, semi-coherent or incoherent. Coherent (& semi-coherent)
precipitates are associated with coherency stresses.
Dislocations cannot glide through incoherent precipitates.
Inclusions behave similar to incoherent precipitates in this regard (precipitates are part of
the system, whilst inclusions are external to the alloy system).
A pinned dislocation (at a precipitate) has to either climb over it (which becomes
favourable at high temperatures) or has to bow around it.

Glide through the precipitate If the precipitate is coherent with the matrix
Dislocation
Get pinned by the precipitate

A complete list of factors giving rise to hardening due to precipitates/inclusions will be considered later

Dislocation Glide through the precipitate

Only if slip plane is continuous from the matrix through the precipitate
precipitate is coherent with the matrix.
Stress to move the dislocation through the precipitate is ~ that to move it in the
matrix (though it is usually higher as precipitates can be intermetallic compounds).
Usually during precipitation the precipitate is coherent only when it is small and
becomes incoherent on growth.
Small
Large

Growth
Growth
Coherent

Partially coherent

Incoherent

Glide of the dislocation causes a displacement of the upper part of the precipitate
w.r.t the lower part by b ~ cutting of the precipitate.

Schematic views
edge dislocation glide through a coherent precipitate

Precipitate particle

If the particle is sheared, then how does the hardening effect come about?
We have seen that as the dislocation glides through the precipitate it is sheared.
If the precipitate is sheared, then how does it offer any resistance to the motion of the dislocation? I.e.
how can this lead to a hardening effect?
The hardening effect due to a precipitate comes about due to many factors (many of which are system
specific). The important ones are listed in the tree below.

Increase in surface area due to particle shearing

Hardening effect

Part of the dislocation line segment (inside the

precipitate) could face a higher PN stress

Pinning effect of inclusions Orowan bowing mechanism

Dislocations can bow around widely separated inclusions. In this process they leave
dislocation loops around the inclusions, thus leading to an increase in dislocation density.
This is known as the orowan bowing mechanism as shown in the figure below. (This is in some
sense similar to the Frank-Read mechanism).

The next dislocation arriving (similar to the first one), feels a repulsion from the
dislocation loop and hence the stress required to drive further dislocations increases.
Additionally, the effective separation distance (through which the dislocation has to bow)
reduces from d to d1.

Precipitate Hardening effect

(Complete List)

The hardening effect of precipitates can arise in many ways as below:

Lattice Resistance: the dislocation may face an increased lattice friction stress in the
precipitate.
Chemical Strengthening: arises from additional interface created on shearing
Stacking-fault Strengthening: due to difference between stacking-fault energy between
particle and matrix when these are both FCC or HCP (when dislocations are split into
partials)
Modulus Hardening: due to difference in elastic moduli of the matrix and particle
Coherency Strengthening: due to elastic coherency strains surrounding the particle
Order Strengthening: due to additional work required to create an APB in case of
dislocations passing through precipitates which have an ordered lattice

Strain rate effects

We had noted that strain rate can vary by orders of magnitude depending on deformation
process (Creep: 108 to Explosions: 105).
Strain rate effects become significant (on properties like flow stress) only when strain rate
is varied by orders of magnitude (i.e. small changes in flow stress do not affect the value of the properties much).
Strain rate can be related to dislocation velocity by the equation below.

d b vd

vd velocity of the dislocations

d density of mobile/glissile dislocations
b |b|

In a UTT why does the plot not continue along OY (straight line)?
Funda Check
When stress is increased beyond the yield stress the mechanism of deformation changes.
Till Y in the s-e plot, bond elongation (elastic deformation) gives rise to the strain.
After Y, the shear stress resulting from the applied tensile force, tends to move
dislocations (and cause slip) rather than stretch bonds as this will happen at lower
stresses as compared to bond stretching (beyond Y).
If there are not dislocations (e.g. in a whisker) (and for now we ignore other mechanism of
deformation), the material will continue to load along the straight line OY till
dislocations nucleate in the crystal.

TWINNING