Cyclic deformation behavior and microstructural evolution in nickel nanowire with internal void

Cyclic deformation behavior and microstructural evolution in nickel nanowire with internal void

Natraj YEDLA, Kumud Kant MEHTA

Abstract. In this study, the response to strain-controlled (SC) cyclic deformation behavior of nickel nanowire (NW) containing a void is investigated. The void is located at the center of the NW internally (coordinates of the center of the void (x, y, z) = 500 Å, 50Å, 50Å, radius = 15 Å). At first, the NW is subjected to uniaxial tensile deformation at a constant strain rate of 109 s-1 and at a temperature of 300 K to determine the mechanical properties. Peak stress = 13.1 GPa, yield strain = 0.162, and fracture strain = 0.193 are observed in the NW. Based on the tensile test results, the NW is then subjected to compression-tension cycles in the elastic strain amplitude range of 0.060.12 at a temperature of 300 K. The microstructural analysis during the tensile deformation shows that plastic deformation is localized near the void. The void acts as a source of dislocations. The expansion of the void takes place by the continuous emission of dislocations with the progress of deformation. Collapse of the void occurs at a strain of e = 0.186, followed by the failure of the NW. The SC cyclic behavior stress-strain cycles show an increase in the width of the loops with increasing cycles due to cyclic softening. Fracture of the NW is not observed even after 1000 cycles of cyclic deformation. The microstructural features during SC cyclic deformation reveal the formation of dislocation loops at the void surface and deformation bands on the NW surface.

Keywords
Molecular Dynamics, Strain-Control, Cyclic Deformation, Defects, Dislocations, Strain Localization

Published online 5/10/2026, 10 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA

Citation: Natraj YEDLA, Kumud Kant MEHTA, Cyclic deformation behavior and microstructural evolution in nickel nanowire with internal void, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 65, pp 41-50, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904138-7

The article was published as article 7 of the book Processing and Characterization of Materials

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.

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