Structural mechanisms of fracture of nanocrystalline materials

Structural mechanisms and features of brittle and quasi-brittle fracture of nanocrystalline materials are theoretically analyzed. The role of size effects and internal stresses caused by a nonequilibrium structure during brittle trans-and intercrystallite fracture is studied. The dependence of the nanocrystalline material durability on the working stress and grain size is calculated. The conditions for certain mechanisms of plastic deformation to be operative in nanocrystalline materials are analyzed. The influence of the grain-boundary and dislocation mechanisms of plastic deformation on the conditions of nanocrack formation is studied. The dependence of the fracture toughness of nanomaterials on structure parameters is calculated.