The effect of matrix constraint on intergranular cavity growth mechanism maps

Abstract

In this paper, cavity growth mechanism maps have been constructed for copper and iron after considering all the relevant intergranular cavity growth mechanisms that have been proposed to date. Unlike the earlier investigators, the maps have been constructed in an applied stress-cavity size space since it should prove more useful. In particular the effect of matrix constraint has been incorporated in a proper fashion for the first time and the effect of such a constraint on the relative dominance of the various cavity growth mechanisms has been studied as a function of applied stress, temperature, grain size and intercavity spacing. Our results clearly indicate that, even for pure metals characterized by a poor creep strength, the effect of matrix constraint cannot be neglected.