The deformation behaviors of Al and Cu bicrystals, having a Σ11 <110>{131} symmetrical tilt grain boundary, under pure shear was studied by using molecular dynamics with embedded-atom method interatomic potentials. The results indicated that the plastic strain in the bicrystals could be accommodated by grain boundary migration coupled shear deformation or grain boundary sliding; depending upon the shear direction. Detailed study revealed that both the grain boundary coupling motion and the grain boundary sliding could be rationalized by the grain boundary disconnection mechanism. The calculated coupling factors agreed well with the |b|/h ratios of the disconnections responsible. Based upon the results, a shear-direction dependent deformation behavior of this grain boundary was proposed which placed particular emphasis on the predominant role of the grain boundary disconnections with a Burger's vector of (1/22)<471> type.

Shear Response of the Σ11, <110>{131} Symmetric Tilt Grain Boundary Studied by Molecular Dynamics. L.Wan, S.Wang: Modelling and Simulation of Materials Science and Engineering, 2009, 17[4], 045008 (18pp)