Plastic strain heterogeneities in an Mg–1Zn–0.5Nd alloy

The distribution of plastic strain, both intergranular and intragranular, has been evaluated using digital image correlation on a tensile-deformed Mg–1Zn–0.5Nd alloy. The intergranular strain distribution is sensitive to both the orientation of the grains and the orientations of neighbouring grains. Large intragranular strain gradients were observed close to some grain boundaries. These high levels of local strain were seen to correlate to the operation of additional slip and/or twin systems close to grain boundaries, deformation kinking and/or grain boundary sliding.