Elastic and plastic deformations of nickel nanowires under uniaxial compression

Using atomistic molecular dynamics simulation with a Sutton-Chen many body potential, we studied the structural evolution and deformation mechanisms of nickel nanowires under homogeneous uniaxial compressions. Nickel nanowires with helical multi-shell structure and fcc-like crystalline structures have been considered. Elastic and plastic behaviors of nickel nanowires under compression were observed and their elastic limits were determined. Our simulations show that the nickel nanowires with helical multi-shell structure have greater yield strength than that of macroscopic solid. Above elastic limit, the plastic deformation of the nanowires shows behavior that is associated with superplasticity. The final atomic structures for the two kinds of nanowires are resemblant crystalline-like.