Non-equilibrium grain boundaries in titanium nanostructured by severe plastic deformation: Computational study of sources of material strengthening

A computational model of ultrafine grained (UFG) or nanostructured titanium (Ti), based on a finite element (FE) unit cell model of the material and a dislocation density based model of plastic deformation has been developed. FE simulations of tensile deformation of UFG Ti with different fractions and properties of the grain boundary (GB) phase have been carried out. The effect of different degrees of deviation from the equilibrium state of the grain boundaries (GBs) on the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured Ti have been investigated using the combined composite/dislocation dynamics based model. In particular, the effects of different diffusion coefficients in the GB phase, of a high initial dislocation density in the grain boundaries, as well as of atomic scale precipitates are investigated for affecting the deformation behaviour of UFG or nanostructured Ti.