Microstructure evolution during severe shear deformation at small length-scales

Microstructure evolution during severe shear in micrometer-scale sample sizes is examined by performing large-strain machining experiments inside a scanning electron microscope. The effect of depths of cut ranging from 1 to 10 μm on the mechanics is examined using digital image correlation of secondary electron images. The resulting microstructure is characterized via electron backscattered diffraction, which shows that with shrinking length-scales the gradual microstructure refinement observed for deeper cuts is replaced by abrupt but sporadic refinement mechanisms.