A method was presented that described the formation of a dynamic defect structure in metals subjected to extreme loading conditions. It was noted that plastic deformation at the nano- and meso-scales was not continuous. However, at the macroscale (sub-mm and above), the deformation appeared to be homogeneous. It was therefore concluded that, at the macroscale, the requirement of kinematic compatibility was satisfied. Among all of the macro-lengths there was a smallest one that was considered to be a characteristic property of the material. As a result, the concept of mesocompatibility was replaced with a new criterion that specified the degree of kinematic incompatibility in relationship to the length-scale at which the material was observed. The theory was illustrated by solving a plane-strain problem. During the analysis, it was found that an initially random arrangement of defects could become well-organized. Under certain extreme conditions, the defect structure could experience a strongly excitated dynamic state.

Formation of Dynamic Defect Structure in Metals Subjected to Extreme Loading Conditions. A.Zubelewicz, P.J.Maudlin, G.T.Gray, A.K.Zurek: Physical Review B, 2005, 71[10], 104107 (5pp)