Anisotropy of Plastic Deformation in Hexagonal Metals

Abstract

Geometric aspects of the shear processes in hexagonal metals are analysed. They can be divided into three groups: those localized essentially between neighbouring atomic planes, occurring in narrow slabs along particular atomic planes, or covering a large crystal volume. Obviously, dislocation glide and deformation twinning are principal types of such processes. On the geometrical level, the dislocation slip as well as twin propagation are controlled by Schmid factors. Since the sample loaded by external stress can sometimes give way to fracture (cleavage) under tensile stress, it has to be also mentioned. The main aim of this work is to show only on geometrical grounds for which sample orientation which process is more likely to occur. More complex shear processes that take place during double twinning are also briefly considered. In polycrystals, the shear phenomena lead to texture formation when the processes that control the behaviour of materials may be those that act in a similar way in single crystals.