Mechanism of plastic collapse of nanosized crystals with BCC lattice under uniaxial compression

Within the dislocation–kinetic approach, based on the nonlinear kinetic equation for dislocation density, an attempt is made to consider the problem of a catastrophic plastic collapse of defect-free nanocrystals of metals with bcc lattice under their uniaxial compression with a constant deformation rate. Solutions of this equation were found in the form of moving waves, describing the dislocation multiplication process as the wave moves along the crystal from a local dislocation source. Comparison of the theory with the results of experiments on defect-free Mo nanocrystals showed that their ultrahigh strength at the initial stage of deformation is associated with a low rate of rise of crystal plastic deformation in comparison with the growth of its elastic component. The subsequent plastic collapse of crystal is caused by a sharp increasing the plastic component, ending with reaching the equality of elastic and plastic deformation rates.