A continuum description of nonlinear elasticity, slip and twinning, with application to sapphire

Abstract

A model is developed for elasticity, plasticity and twinning in anisotropic single crystals subjected to large deformations. Dislocation glide and deformation twinning are dissipative, while energy storage mechanisms associated with dislocation lines and twin boundaries are described via scalar internal state variables. Concepts from continuum crystal plasticity are invoked, with shearing rates on discrete glide and twinning systems modelled explicitly. The model describes aspects of thermomechanical behaviour of single crystals of alumina over a range of loading conditions. Resolved shear stresses necessary for glide or twin nucleation at low to moderate temperatures are estimated from nonlinear elastic calculations, theoretical considerations of Peierls barriers and stacking fault energies and observations from shock physics experiments. These estimates are combined with the existing data from high-temperature experiments to provide initial yield conditions spanning a wide range of temperatures. The model reflects hardening of glide and twin systems from dislocations accumulated during basal slip. Residual elastic volume changes, predicted from nonlinear elastic considerations and approximated dislocation line energies, are positive and proportional to the dislocation line density. While the model suggests that generation of very large dislocation densities could influence the pressure–volume response, volume increases from defects are predicted to be small in crystals deformed via basal glide on a single system.