Shear banding in sub-microcrystalline nickel at 4Â K

A flat specimen of sub-microcrystalline nickel was tensile tested at 4 K until fracture occurred and subsequently investigated by electron backscatter diffraction in a high resolution scanning electron microscope in order to deduce the local texture in the near crack area. Thus, two sets of intersecting fine slip markings observed on the surface (under ±55° with respect to the tensile axis) could be explained as a result of localized simple shear in the bulk material underneath the slip markings. The overall amount of shear in the region near the crack was estimated to be 1.25 based on texture simulations using the viscoplastic self-consistent polycrystal model.