The response of polycrystalline α-Zr to various deformation conditions was investigated through electron backscattered diffraction characterization. The range of deformation conditions included quasi-static compression and tension at room and cryogenic temperatures, along with a Taylor cylinder impact experiment. The resultant data provided spatial resolution of individual twin system activity as a function of the progression of deformation. Over 300 deformation twins were analyzed in order to identify the type of twin system and active variant, along with the Schmid factor in the parent orientation. These data supplied information on the distribution of Schmid factor and variant rank as a function of twin system and deformation condition. Results exhibited significant deviation from a maximum Schmid factor activation criterion and suggested deformation twinning was greatly affected by local internal stress heterogeneities and the sense of the applied stress.

Deformation Twinning in Polycrystalline Zr - Insights from Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction Characterization. J.F.Bingert, T.A.Mason, G.C.Kaschner, P.J.Maudlin, G.T.Gray: Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, 2002, 33[3A], 955-63