The review of the theoretical models, which describes mechanisms of deformation twinning in nanocrystalline and ultrafine-grained materials, is presented. Realization of special mechanisms of nanoscale deformation twin generation at locally distorted grain boundaries (GBs) in nanocrystalline and ultrafine-grained materials is observed. In particular, the micromechanisms of deformation twin formation occur through (1) the consequent emission of partial dislocations from GBs; (2) the cooperative emission of partial dislocations from GBs; and (3) the generation of multiplane nanoscale shear at GBs. The energy and stress characteristics of the deformation nanotwin generation at GBs in nanocrystalline and ultrafine-grained materials are calculated and analyzed. Competition between the twin generation mechanisms in nanocrystalline and ultrafine-grained materials is discussed.
Part of the book: Nanocrystals and Nanostructures