The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocomposites

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of nanoscale Cu/CuZr core-shell crystal/amorphous (CA) models and a nanocrystalline (NC) Cu model before and after helium (He) irradiation. The simulation results indicate that, regardless of...

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Main Authors: Qin Zhou, Shuang Zhang, Ping Huang, Ziqiang Chen, Fei Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Journal of Materials Research and Technology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425020678
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author Qin Zhou
Shuang Zhang
Ping Huang
Ziqiang Chen
Fei Wang
author_facet Qin Zhou
Shuang Zhang
Ping Huang
Ziqiang Chen
Fei Wang
author_sort Qin Zhou
collection DOAJ
description Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of nanoscale Cu/CuZr core-shell crystal/amorphous (CA) models and a nanocrystalline (NC) Cu model before and after helium (He) irradiation. The simulation results indicate that, regardless of whether the models are pre-irradiated or irradiated, the CA structure demonstrates superior plasticity and fracture resistance compared to the NC structure. Moreover, the plasticity and fracture behavior of the CA structure exhibit amorphous layer thickness dependents. Analysis of the crack models after irradiation further reveals that models with thicker amorphous layers possess better ability to passivate the crack tip, and the presence of He bubbles does not alter this outcome. As amorphous layer thickness increases, there is a mechanism transition from dislocation-shear transformation zone (STZ) interaction to shear banding controlled process, corresponding to the observed changes in strength, plasticity, and deformation behaviors. Overall, the proposed CA structure shows reduced sensitivity to the expansion of He bubbles and contributes to its higher crack tip passivation ability, providing atomic-scale theoretical support for the development of CA structural materials with better radiation resistance.
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spelling doaj-art-69fa2dec12e340d096eae78ead83c30f2025-08-23T04:48:34ZengElsevierJournal of Materials Research and Technology2238-78542025-09-01382910292110.1016/j.jmrt.2025.08.114The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocompositesQin Zhou0Shuang Zhang1Ping Huang2Ziqiang Chen3Fei Wang4State Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, ChinaAdvanced Materials Research Central, Northwest Institute for Non-ferrous Metal Research, Xi'an, 710016, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Mechanical Behavior of Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China; Corresponding author.Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, 523808, ChinaState Key Laboratory for Strength and Vibration of Mechanical Structures, School of Aerospace and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, China; Corresponding author.Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were carried out to study the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of nanoscale Cu/CuZr core-shell crystal/amorphous (CA) models and a nanocrystalline (NC) Cu model before and after helium (He) irradiation. The simulation results indicate that, regardless of whether the models are pre-irradiated or irradiated, the CA structure demonstrates superior plasticity and fracture resistance compared to the NC structure. Moreover, the plasticity and fracture behavior of the CA structure exhibit amorphous layer thickness dependents. Analysis of the crack models after irradiation further reveals that models with thicker amorphous layers possess better ability to passivate the crack tip, and the presence of He bubbles does not alter this outcome. As amorphous layer thickness increases, there is a mechanism transition from dislocation-shear transformation zone (STZ) interaction to shear banding controlled process, corresponding to the observed changes in strength, plasticity, and deformation behaviors. Overall, the proposed CA structure shows reduced sensitivity to the expansion of He bubbles and contributes to its higher crack tip passivation ability, providing atomic-scale theoretical support for the development of CA structural materials with better radiation resistance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425020678Helium bubblesIrradiation effectMolecular dynamics simulationsCrystal/amorphousPlastic deformationFracture behavior
spellingShingle Qin Zhou
Shuang Zhang
Ping Huang
Ziqiang Chen
Fei Wang
The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocomposites
Journal of Materials Research and Technology
Helium bubbles
Irradiation effect
Molecular dynamics simulations
Crystal/amorphous
Plastic deformation
Fracture behavior
title The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocomposites
title_full The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocomposites
title_fullStr The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocomposites
title_full_unstemmed The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocomposites
title_short The effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal/amorphous nanocomposites
title_sort effects of helium bubbles on the plastic deformation and fracture behavior of crystal amorphous nanocomposites
topic Helium bubbles
Irradiation effect
Molecular dynamics simulations
Crystal/amorphous
Plastic deformation
Fracture behavior
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2238785425020678
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