Modelling the effect of intrinsic radiation damage on mechanical properties : the crystalline-to-amorphous transition in zircon

2021/04/21 by Huber, Norbert, Beirau, Tobias
#Amorphization #Chemie #Geowissenschaften #Ingenieurwissenschaften #Interfaces #Mathematik #Micromechanical modelling #Nanoindentation #Physik #Polyphase microstructure

paper · doi:10.15480/882.3463

Abstract

Mechanical modelling using the level-cut Gaussian random field approach has been employed to simulate the effect of radiation induced amorphization on the Young´s modulus, Poisson´s ratio and hardness of zircon (ZrSiO4). A good agreement with previous nanoindentation experiments has been achieved. Two percolation transitions occur at 6% and 4% amorphous volume fraction, leading to deviations from linearity in the evolution of the Young´s modulus. Interface regions between crystalline and amorphous areas stabilise the hardness for a considerable amount of amorphous fraction. The modelling approach is promising for predicting the intrinsic radiation damage related evolution of the mechanical properties of various materials.

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