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Dislocations and plastic deformation

NOV 01, 1953
Small and exceedingly rare defects in the structure of solids are the “weak links” that determine the strength of materials. The article reviews some fundamental concepts concerning plastic deformation in certain ductile metals.
W. T. Read

Our understanding of the plastic behavior of solids has lagged well behind the knowledge gained in other branches of solid state physics. Electrical, thermal, elastic, magnetic, and optical properties are explained in terms of a few basic concepts such as the vibrations of atoms and the motion and spin of electrons. We understand fairly well what happens to the atoms and electrons when, for example, a metal absorbs heat or light or carries current in an electric or magnetic field. It is considerably more difficult, however, to discover what basic atomic mechanisms operate when a metal fractures or deforms plastically. Nevertheless the problems of strength and plasticity are highly important technologically and become more so with the increasing importance of jet engines, gas turbines, and other devices that require materials to withstand large forces at high temperatures.

This article is only available in PDF format

References

  1. 1. W. T. Read, Dislocations in Crystals, McGraw‐Hill Book Co., New York, 1953.

  2. 2. A. H. Cottrell, Dislocations and Plastic Flow in Crystals, Oxford, New York, 1953.

More about the Authors

W. T. Read. Bell Telephone Laboratories, Murray Hill, N.J..

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This Content Appeared In
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Volume 6, Number 11

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