Grain boundary sliding was often the picture that explained computer simulation results and experiments on plasticity of nanophase materials. Using atomistic computer simulations, a detailed study was made of the effects of high hydrostatic pressures upon nanophase Cu plasticity and it was found that it could be understood in terms of pressure-dependent grain-boundary sliding controlled by a Mohr-Coulomb law. This result explained recent results on pressure-induced ultra high-strength observed in computer simulations of shocks in nanophase Cu.

Pressure Effects on Grain Boundary Plasticity in Nanophase Metals. E.M.Bringa, A.Caro, E.Leveugle: Applied Physics Letters, 2006, 89[2], 023101 (3pp)