About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Mechanical Behavior at the Nanoscale VIII
|
| Presentation Title |
Finite-Size Scaling and Scale-Invariant Strain Hardening Exponent in Micropillar Plasticity |
| Author(s) |
Kyle Wade, Mark Aindow, Seok-Woo Lee |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Kyle Wade |
| Abstract Scope |
We present a finite-size scaling framework to describe size-dependent plasticity in crystalline micropillars near the yield point. By linking key exponents from finite-size scaling theory and strain avalanche statistics, we derive a generalized relation that captures micromechanical behavior across different micropillar sizes. The model assumes near-critical behavior and shows that the strain hardening exponent becomes nearly scale-invariant, governed by intrinsic avalanche dynamics. Effects of dislocation density, temperature, and crystallographic orientation are incorporated through a shift in the critical mean-field yield stress, enabling consistent interpretation across microstructures and testing conditions. This unified framework offers a predictive scaling law for plastic flow in micron-scale crystals. The approach provides mechanistic insight into how internal dislocation interactions and fluctuations control external size effects, supporting both experimental interpretation and the design of reliable, robust, and efficient small-scale mechanical systems and components. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Mechanical Properties, Modeling and Simulation, Environmental Effects |