Higher order elastic constants and non-linear stress-strain relation for V3Si

Relations for the third and fourth order elastic constants are derived from a Landau-Devonshire type free energy function for crystals with the A15 structure which undergo the structural transformation at low temperature. Application to transforming V₃Si at 21° K gives in connection with experimental data for the pressure derivatives of the elastic constants unusually large numerical values for c₁₁₁, c₁₁₂, c₁₂₃ and c₁₁₁₁. The stress-' strain relation calculated from these data is in semiquantitative agreement with the directly measured, strongly non-linear behavior.