The role of the weakest-link mechanism in controlling the plasticity of micropillars

We present a computational study on the effects of sample size on the strength and plastic flow characteristics of micropillars under compression loading. We conduct three-dimensional simulations using the parametric dislocation dynamics coupled with the boundary element method. Two different loading techniques are performed. The plastic flow characteristics as well as the stress–strain behavior of simulated micropillars are shown to be in general agreement with experimental observations. The flow strength versus the diameter of the micropillar follows a power law with an exponent equal to -0.69-0.69. A stronger correlation is observed between the flow strength and the average length of activated dislocation sources. This relationship is again a power law, with an exponent -0.85-0.85. Simulation results with and without the activation of cross-slip are compared. Discontinuous hardening is observed when cross-slip is included. Experimentally observed size effects on plastic flow and work-hardening are consistent with a “weakest-link activation mechanism”.