Modeling the strain rate-dependent constitutive behavior in nanotwinned polycrystalline metals

Abstract

Experimental studies have demonstrated that both strain rate and temperature influence the mechanical behavior of nanostructured metals significantly. In this work, a theoretical model is developed to describe the strain-rate-dependent constitutive behavior of nanotwinned polycrystalline metals. The athermal flow stress and thermal-activated flow stress are both considered in modeling the plastic deformation of a nanotwinned metal. Numerical results are consistent with the experimental results, showing that the present model can well describe the strain rate-dependent deformation behavior of nanotwinned polycrystalline copper. Henceforth, the constitutive behaviors of nanotwinned copper at different strain rates and temperatures can be predicted, which will be useful for optimizing the dynamic mechanical properties at various temperatures for nanotwinned metals.