notes / strengthening mechanisms

Hall-Petch Relation
ky
σy = σi +
D
where ky is Petch parameter, also known as unpinning constant

Model 1
Imagine a ⊥ pile up at a grain boundary so that the stress at a point r from the pile up in the next
grain is given by,
L
σat r = σrss
r
where L is the pile-up length and σrss is the effective resolved shear stress on the slip plane due
to an applied stress (σ); i.e., if σi is the resistance or back stress due to lattice friction etc, the
stress at point r from the pile-up is,
L
σat r = (σrss-σi) .
r
Let σd be the stress required to nucleate slip in the next grain. That means yielding would occur
when σat r = σd. Or,
D
σd = (σy-σi) .
r
Here, we replaced L by D since the F-R source may be regarded as in the center of the grain
and the nucleation point in the next grain is also perhaps at the center. So that,
σ r ky
σy = σi + d = σi + .
D D
This relation is valid for large pile-ups and not too small D ( ≥ 60Å).

Model 2
In general the dislocation density (ρ) is inversely proportional to the grain size (D) :
1
ρ=D .
We know from Taylor equation relating the yield stress to the dislocation density,
k
σy = σi + αGb ρ = σi + .
D

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 notes / strengthening mechanisms

Strengthening Mechanisms
(see notes pp.164-165)
αGb
σy = l

Forest Dislocations (Taylor Eqn.)

σy = σi + αGb ρ

Strain or Work Hardening

ρ = ρo + Kεm ; m = 0.9 – 1 σy = σi + αGb ρo + Kεm

Solution Hardening (Cottrell Atmosphere Locking)

c = con. of solute atoms (/cc) σy = KT c ,
for large c, σy = KI c
subscripts T and I stand for tetragonal and isotropic hardening terms

Precipitate Hardening
1 3
(small point precipitates) N=ppt density (/cc) <l> = so that σy = αGb N )
3
N
Precipitation Hardening (Orowan Bowing)
αGb
if the mean distance between ppts is l, σy = l
D
large precipitates : D = diameter and fv = volume fraction l =
fv

In some cases, the ppts are sheared by the dislocation cutting through them.

Grain-Size Hardening
at low temp ( ≤ 0.4TM) - Hall-Petch relation → smaller the grain size harder the material
ky
σy = σi + (valid at low temps.)
D
at high -temp (!!!) - GBS makes small grain sized materials weaker .

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