Predicting the mechanical properties of second period refractory transition metal alloys

Stress–strain data from single crystals of refractory transition metal alloys tested in tension and compression are analyzed to give the parameters describing dislocation motion. The athermal stress and temperature correlates well with the elemental concentration of the alloy, while the Peierls–Nabarro (P–N) stress correlates with the bonding electron concentration. An estimate of the magnitude of the P–N stress for mixed dislocations is calculated from the elastic constants and correlates well with the values derived from experiment. These correlations provide the basis for predicting the magnitude of yield stress for transition metal alloys, and two examples are given of how this procedure can be used for alloys of known yield stress.