Crack healing in nanocrystalline palladium. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Guoqiang; Demkowicz, Michael J.
• Is Part Of: Extreme mechanics letters. Volume 8(2016)
• Page Start: 208
• Page End: 212
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Mechanics -- Periodicals; Mechanics, Applied -- Periodicals; Mechanics; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 531.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eml.2016.03.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-4316

Abstract

Abstract: We present molecular dynamics simulations that demonstrate crack healing induced by external mechanical loading in three-dimensional models of nanocrystalline palladium. This behavior is due to the interaction of a crack with internal stresses in the surrounding microstructure. Our observations illustrate the importance of accounting for microstructurally-induced internal stresses when predicting the behavior of nano-scale cracks under mechanical loading. They also motivate further work to determine whether internal damage in hard matter may be mitigated by designing microstructures that heal cracks during mechanical loading.