The structure of such crystals was modelled by using the concept of non-equilibrium grain boundaries. The latter were considered to contain disordered arrays of dislocations and junction disclinations. The root mean square elastic strains, excess grain boundary energy, and volume expansion which were caused by these defects were calculated for uniform or randomly distributed dislocations and for disclinations of random strength. The role which random internal stresses played in the yield stress of nanocrystals was studied by using a percolation approach.

A.A.Nazarov, A.E.Romanov, R.Z.Valiev: Nanostructured Materials, 1995, 6[5-8], 775-8