Deformation Mechanism Map - Reading The Map

Reading The Map

For a given stress profile and temperature, the point lies in a particular "deformation field". If the values place the point near the center of a field, it is likely that the primary mechanism by which the material will fail, i.e.: the type and rate of failure expected, grain boundary diffusion, plasticity, nabarro-herring creep, etc... If however, the stress and temperature conditions place the point near the boundary between two deformation mechanism regions then the dominating mechanism is less clear. Near the boundary there are likely more than one effect that are of sufficient magnitude to affect the deformation and possible failure of the material. Deformation mechanism maps are only as accurate as the number of experiments and calculations undertaken in their creation.