International Journal of Plasticity最新文献

{"title":"A three-dimensional shear transformation zone theory for glassy polymers","authors":"Ji Lin ,&nbsp;Wuyang Zhao ,&nbsp;Rui Xiao","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Developing constitutive models for the highly nonlinear behaviors of glassy polymers, such as yielding and strain hardening, is important for their engineering applications. Yielding is closely tied to nonequilibrium thermodynamics, often referred to as physical aging, while strain hardening is associated with the oriented microstructures of the polymer network, which further contribute to the Bauschinger effect in pre-deformed glassy polymers. To capture these nonlinear mechanical responses, we have developed a three-dimensional viscoplastic model grounded in shear transformation zone (STZ) theory, linking the plastic flow to the STZ microdynamics. The collective behavior of STZs is characterized by two statistical variables: the density and orientation tensor, both governed by first-order evolution equations. We established a conceptual relationship between these STZ variables and the plastic flow tensor by incorporating a prefactor that combines the amplitude of chain stretching with the angle between the driven stress and STZ orientation. Additionally, an effective temperature model has been integrated to capture nonequilibrium thermodynamics. The model was applied to quantitatively describe the stress responses of glassy polymers in uniaxial deformation and plane strain tests. The simulation results demonstrate that the model quantitatively captures physical aging under various thermal and mechanical conditions, as well as the Bauschinger effect, reflected in distinct stress responses of pre-deformed glassy polymers in opposite loading directions. This work extends the STZ model to the finite deformation three-dimensional condition, bridging the gap between the intricate microscopic mechanisms governing STZ transformation and the complex constitutive behaviors of glassy polymers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 104628"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146095707","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Topological defect analysis and phase field study of disclination-assisted twin-grain boundary reactions in HCP-Ti polycrystals","authors":"Haipeng Li ,&nbsp;Yipeng Gao ,&nbsp;Yizhen Li ,&nbsp;Tao Yu ,&nbsp;Chunfeng Du ,&nbsp;Yongsi Wei ,&nbsp;Yuchao Song ,&nbsp;Hui-Yuan Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104621","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104621","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The mechanical behavior of polycrystalline metals is profoundly influenced by the interaction between deformation twins and grain boundaries (GBs), which concurrently induces strengthening and accommodates plastic strain. Particularly in hexagonal close-packed metals, the coexistence and competition of multiple twinning modes at diverse GBs can lead to interface/junction incompatibilities through complex defect reactions. These incompatibilities, mediated by the formation of dislocations and disclinations, result in local stress concentrations that govern subsequent hardening and damage phenomena. However, a theoretical framework for quantitatively determining the stress fields resulting from all types of twin-GB reactions remains underdeveloped. Here, we bridge this gap by integrating topological defect analysis with phase-field simulations to establish a general approach for calculating the defect structures and internal stresses arising from twin-GB reactions. Taking <span><math><mi>α</mi></math></span>-Ti as a representative case, we systematically analyze the distributions of dislocations, disclinations, and local stresses across a broad range of twin-GB reactions. Our analysis reveals that twin transmission—a key accommodation mechanism—is governed by the minimization of residual defects and the associated stress concentration from twin-GB reactions. This principle is validated by our phase-field simulations and electron backscatter diffraction characterizations. This work establishes a quantitative, mechanism-based framework for predicting local stress concentrations and plastic accommodation in polycrystalline materials, providing fundamental insights into the role of twin-GB interactions in the macroscopic mechanical response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 104621"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tailoring lightweight refractory high-entropy alloys via Y2O3 additions: Achieving >1.3 GPa yield strength with retained ductility","authors":"Yongmiao Liu,&nbsp;Yusheng Wang,&nbsp;Mingliang Wang,&nbsp;Yiping Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) demonstrate exceptional resistance to softening at elevated temperatures, positioning them as leading candidates for high-temperature structural applications. Nevertheless, state-of-the-art RHEAs still exhibit elevated density and inherent room-temperature brittleness, thereby constraining their industrial deployment. This study systematically investigates a lightweight Ti₅₅Zr₁₀V₁₅Nb₁₀Al₁₀ refractory high-entropy alloy (RHEA) (ρ ≈ 5.3 g/cm³) strengthened with Y₂O₃ nanoparticles. The alloy achieves an exceptional yield strength of ∼1370 MPa alongside a tensile ductility of ∼15% (with ∼7% uniform elongation), significantly surpassing both its base alloy and most reported RHEAs. This superior strength–ductility synergy originates from semi-coherent Y₂O₃/BCC interfaces, which provide effective Orowan strengthening while promoting extensive activation of multi-slip deformation dominated by non-screw dislocations. This atypical deformation mode sustains strain hardening and retains ductility in the BCC matrix.This work demonstrates that the introduction of coherent ceramic nanoparticles is a potent strategy to bypass the strength-ductility trade-off in RHEAs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 104622"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014423","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Segregation-driven cross-slip mechanism of Shockley partials in the γ' phase of CoNi-based superalloys","authors":"Zhida Liang ,&nbsp;Fengxian Liu ,&nbsp;Xin Liu ,&nbsp;Yang Li ,&nbsp;Yinan Cui ,&nbsp;Florian Pyczak","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In general, the cross-slip of superpartial dislocations (<span><math><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>/</mo><mn>2</mn><mo>〈</mo><mn>011</mn><mo>〉</mo><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> from <span><math><mrow><mo>{</mo><mn>111</mn><mo>}</mo><mspace></mspace></mrow></math></span>planes to <span><math><mrow><mo>{</mo><mn>001</mn><mo>}</mo></mrow></math></span> planes has been frequently observed in superalloys, which are accompanied by the formation of an antiphase boundary (APB) and driven by thermal activation. However, no prior studies have evidenced the occurrence of Shockley partial dislocation (<span><math><mrow><mi>a</mi><mo>/</mo><mn>6</mn><mo>〈</mo><mn>112</mn><mo>〉</mo><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> cross-slip within the γ′ phase of superalloys. In this work, we present a newly observed cross-slip phenomenon: the Shockley partial dislocations cross-slip from one <span><math><mrow><mo>{</mo><mn>111</mn><mo>}</mo></mrow></math></span> plane to another <span><math><mrow><mo>{</mo><mn>111</mn><mo>}</mo></mrow></math></span> conjugate plane, facilitated by the formation of a stair-rod dislocation in the ordered γ′ phase of CoNi-based superalloy. Compression tests were conducted at 1123 K with a strain rate of 10^–4 s^-1. Defects such as stacking faults and dislocations, along with the associated chemical fluctuations, were characterized using high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HRSTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Elemental segregation was found to reduce the activation energy required for cross-slip by decreasing the energies of stacking faults and dislocations. In addition to elemental segregation, local stress concentrations, arising from the combined effects of applied stress, shearing dislocations within the γ' phase, and dislocation pile-ups, also play a critical role in triggering cross-slip. The formation of sessile stair-rod dislocations via this newly identified Shockley partial cross-slip in the γ' phase is beneficial for enhancing the high-temperature deformation resistance of the alloy by increasing the critical resolved shear stress required for further plastic deformation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 104612"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145993425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strengthening mechanisms of Mo–Nb–Ti and Ta–Nb–Ti complex-concentrated alloys: Data-driven insights from atomic descriptors and short-range order","authors":"Taeyeop Kim ,&nbsp;Daegun You ,&nbsp;Dongwoo Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104556","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104556","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The design of refractory complex-concentrated alloys (RCCAs) requires a comprehensive understanding of how alloying elements govern microstructure and mechanical response. Here, we report an integrated approach combining high-throughput experiments on Mo-Nb-Ti and Ta-Nb-Ti thin-film alloy libraries with molecular dynamics simulations to examine short range order (SRO). Composition dependent X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy investigations reveal that Mo-Nb-Ti alloys maintain fine grain sizes with minimal temperature dependence, whereas Ta-Nb-Ti alloys undergo substantial grain growth at elevated temperature. Nanoindentation mapping shows that Mo-Nb-Ti alloys consistently exhibit higher hardness and hardness-to-modulus ratios than Ta-Nb-Ti alloys, with strengthening largely affected by solid-solution effects. In contrast, the hardness reduction in Ta-Nb-Ti films deposited at high temperature is directly correlated with grain coarsening. Molecular dynamics simulations further demonstrate that SRO plays a critical role in strengthening and plasticity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 104556"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145553363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unveiling deformation and damage evolution of WAAMed high-strength Al alloys across cryogenic to elevated temperatures","authors":"Yanan Hu ,&nbsp;Mingxue Feng ,&nbsp;Chao Yu ,&nbsp;Qianhua Kan ,&nbsp;Xu Zhang ,&nbsp;Shengchuan Wu ,&nbsp;Leilei Wang ,&nbsp;Feifan Wang ,&nbsp;Yanling Xue ,&nbsp;Guozheng Kang","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2026.104607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study systematically investigates the deformation behavior and internal damage evolution of wire + arc additively manufactured 2219 aluminum alloy across a temperature range of 133 K to 523 K using in-situ X-ray microtomography. Particular attention is devoted to clarifying the effects of both low and high temperatures on void nucleation, growth, and coalescence within the alloy. The results demonstrate that most voids nucleate through the fracture of eutectic θ (Al₂Cu) phases. At elevated temperatures, reduced resistance to void nucleation and growth promotes extensive damage accumulation. In contrast, at cryogenic temperatures, increased resistance to nucleation leads to a lower void density; however, once voids nucleate and locally link, they rapidly coalesce into micro-cracks. Consequently, high-temperature failure is primarily governed by void growth, whereas cryogenic failure is dominated by void nucleation. Based on the identified critical microstructural attributes governing mechanical performance, a micromechanical constitutive model is constructed to describe the deformation behavior of the alloy. In the proposed model, the alloy is regarded as a heterogeneous composite consisting of an Al matrix, manufacturing defects, and eutectic θ phases. The temperature-dependent stress-strain responses are predicted using the Mori-Tanaka homogenization method, with the influence of temperature on damage evolution explicitly incorporated. The model successfully reproduces the stress-strain curves across the investigated temperature range and reflects the effect of damage evolution on the deformation behavior. Furthermore, Shapley additive explanations analysis identifies the temperature as the most influential factor affecting mechanical performance, surpassing the effects of both porosity and phase volume fraction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 104607"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145920593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Indentation-informed convolutional neural network for simultaneous prediction of non-equibiaxial residual stress and plastic flow","authors":"Minwoo Park ,&nbsp;Deunbom Chung ,&nbsp;Wanchuck Woo ,&nbsp;Seungcheol Oh ,&nbsp;Kyeongjae Jeong ,&nbsp;Heung Nam Han","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study proposes an integrated finite element (FE) simulation and convolutional neural network (CNN) model designed for the simultaneous prediction of plastic properties and surface in-plane non-equibiaxial residual stress from spherical indentation responses. By eliminating the need for stress-free reference specimens, the proposed framework enables non-destructive prediction. The framework leverages indentation load-depth curves and directional deformation profiles derived from validated FE simulations. Sensitivity analyses identify the indenter radius and penetration ratio as critical factors for improving prediction accuracy and maximizing the sensitivity of indentation responses to variations in residual stress. The influence of non-equibiaxial residual stress states on indentation behavior is further elucidated through a mechanistic investigation, which reveals a close association with cumulative volumetric changes in equivalent plastic strain near the indentation zone. The CNN training performance supports the sensitivity-based determination of optimal indentation settings. The model is shown to achieve a mean absolute error corresponding to below 5 % on average for residual stresses, while the plasticity parameters are also well captured. Experimental assessment on copper specimens with homogeneous residual stress fields verifies the accuracy and adaptability of the developed FE–CNN model. Further validation using additively manufactured stainless steel, exhibiting complex heterogeneous residual stresses, shows strong consistency with neutron diffraction measurements. This FE–CNN framework presents a robust and scalable approach for comprehensive mechanical characterization, offering substantial benefits for assessing structural integrity and reliability across diverse industrial applications without recourse to destructive testing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 104606"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145894280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anomalous TRIP effect in an additively manufactured metastable high-entropy alloy at cryogenic temperatures: Implications for mechanical properties, microstructural evolution, and deformation mechanism","authors":"Yunjian Bai ,&nbsp;Yaoyao Wang ,&nbsp;Yanle Li ,&nbsp;Yansen Li ,&nbsp;Guo-jian Lyu ,&nbsp;Heng Chen ,&nbsp;Chenglong Yang ,&nbsp;Fangyi Li","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104596","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104596","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Additive manufacturing (AM) enables the tailored strength-ductility synergy of metastable high-entropy alloys (M-HEAs) by precisely regulating their metastable characteristics. However, the paucity of research on the cryogenic performance of AM-fabricated M-HEAs has impeded their reliable deployment in low-temperature engineering scenarios. This study systematically investigates the Co₃₄Cr₂₀Fe₃₄Ni₆Mn₆ M-HEA, analyzing its mechanical behavior, microstructural evolution, and deformation mechanisms at cryogenic temperature (77 K), with comparative analysis against its room-temperature (298 K) properties. Additionally, the influence of manufacturing processes (cast vs. AM) on the microstructure and deformation was examined. The results reveal that the sufficient γ-phase retained by the AM process effectively overcomes the limitation of insufficient phase transformation capacity in cast sample. At 77 K, the AM-fabricated sample not only effectively mitigates the grain orientation dependence of phase transformation observed at 298 K—facilitating a uniform γ→ε transformation across the entire sample—but also undergoes a subsequent reverse ε→γ transformation. This reversible phase transformation behavior endows the alloy with an anomalous transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. The reverse ε→γ transformation is attributed to the combined effects of stacking fault energy/Gibbs free energy, local dissipative heating, and the local stress-strain field. Notably, the anomalous TRIP effect contributes to remarkable hardening, doubling the tensile strength while retaining excellent ductility. Furthermore, this study reveals a cooperative-to-competitive transition in deformation mechanisms between room and cryogenic temperatures. At 298 K, the TRIP effect operates synergistically with full dislocation slip, whereas at 77 K, the TRIP effect competes with full dislocation slip and gradually supplants it as the dominant mechanism. These findings yield cutting-edge insights into the deformation mechanisms of AM-fabricated M-HEAs under cryogenic conditions, offering critical reference for their targeted optimization and engineering application in low-temperature environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 104596"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145796131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enhancing the strength and plasticity of laminated aluminum alloy by introducing micron-scale pure aluminum interlayers","authors":"Yufeng Song ,&nbsp;Lijie Wang ,&nbsp;Yuqiang Chen ,&nbsp;Wenhui Liu ,&nbsp;Ziyi Teng ,&nbsp;Qiang Hu ,&nbsp;Mingwang Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104601","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104601","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Laminated aluminum alloys (LAAs) are recognized as pivotal materials in aerospace and automotive structures, due to their low density and high specific strength. However, there is an inverse relationship between the strength and plasticity of these alloys, which restricts their further applications in a low-carbon economy. This study proposes the design of micron-scale pure Al interlayers between AA2024/AA7075 layers to inversely strengthen the LAAs by achieving collaborative deformation through interlayer stress gradients and dislocation path modulation, enabling simultaneous enhancement of strength and plasticity. Notably, the micron-layered Al composite (MLAC) exhibits an ultimate tensile strength of 503.4 MPa and elongation of 13.3 %, which are 18.6 % and 29.1 % higher than those of the traditional layered composites (TLACs), significantly surpassing the limitation of the mechanical properties of laminated materials obeying the rule of mixtures (ROM). The underlying strengthening–ductilizing mechanisms are unveiled by in-situ electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), digital image correlation (DIC), crystal plasticity (CP), and molecular dynamics (MD) based simulations. Results reveal that the strength mismatch between the pure Al layer and the Al alloy layers induces progressive accumulation of soft-layer stress gradient, forming an interfacial stress-affected zone (ISAZs). These zones trigger intricate dislocation-grain interactions and evolve into networked strain bands through the coordinated activation of slip systems. By redistributing local stress fields, these strain bands promote plastic flow as the dominant stress dissipation pathway, dynamically balance interfacial stress concentrations, and induce subcritical microcrack formation, thereby suppressing the tendency for catastrophic brittle fractures. Consequently, these findings establish heterostructure-enabled interlayer design as an effective pathway to achieve strength–ductility synergy in AA2024/AA7075 laminates. The unveiled strengthening–ductilizing mechanism offers a conceptual framework for developing LAAs that transcend conventional mechanical property limitations, obeying ROM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 104601"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145844912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface severe plastic deformation-enabled deformation behavior control and mechanical property enhancement in metastable ferrous medium-entropy alloys","authors":"Gang Hee Gu ,&nbsp;Sang Guk Jeong ,&nbsp;Jae Heung Lee ,&nbsp;Stefanus Harjo ,&nbsp;Wu Gong ,&nbsp;Auezhan Amanov ,&nbsp;Jae Wung Bae ,&nbsp;Hyeonseok Kwon ,&nbsp;Hyoung Seop Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104581","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ijplas.2025.104581","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stacking fault energy (SFE) is an intrinsic property that governs the deformation behavior of metallic materials, including dislocation slip, deformation twinning, and phase transformation. In this study, we present a mechanistic perspective demonstrating that the ‘apparent’ SFE and the associated deformation behavior can be tailored by modifying only the localized microstructure (∼100 μm from the surface) through the application of surface severe plastic deformation. This process generates a well-defined gradient microstructure in the near-surface region through grain refinement and an increase in dislocation density. The reduction in apparent SFE induced by localized gradient structure enhances the driving force for martensitic transformation compared to its homogeneous counterpart. This effect originates from the preferential martensite nucleation sites provided by the localized gradient region, as well as from dynamic stress partitioning facilitated by phase interfaces and gradient heterostructure, which synergistically accelerate the growth of martensitic phase. As a result, the deformation behavior was effectively modulated, leading to significantly enhanced mechanical properties. In particular, partial microstructural modification enabled strength enhancement while minimizing the loss of ductility, in clear contrast to conventional approaches based solely on grain refinement or dislocation density enhancement. This work therefore provides phenomenological insight into how localized microstructural engineering can regulate deformation mechanisms and mechanical performance, representing advancements beyond the conventional understanding of mechanical behavior of heterostructured materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":340,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Plasticity","volume":"197 ","pages":"Article 104581"},"PeriodicalIF":12.8,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145753083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}