Mechanical Properties

Atomic Description of Elastic Behavior

· The diagram shows the atom positions in a metal crystal at zero stress, under a stress in the elastic range, and under a stress that has caused plastic deformation .
· For elastic deformation, the mean interatomic distance changes with applied stress.

From: Guy and Hren,
"Elements of Physical Metallurgy," Addison Wesley (1974)

· For plastic deformation, the material slips on particular (h k l) planes in particular [u v w] directions. When the stress is removed, the slip is retained, but the interatomic spacing returns to r₀.