Molecular dynamics simulation of twin boundary effect on deformation of Cu nanopillars

Molecular dynamics simulations performed on <110> Cu nanopillars revealed significant difference in deformation behavior of nanopillars with and without twin boundary. The plastic deformation in single crystal Cu nanopillar without twin boundary was dominated by twinning, whereas the introduction of twin boundary changed the deformation mode from twinning to slip consisting of leading partial followed by trailing partial dislocations. This difference in deformation behavior has been attributed to the formation of stair-rod dislocation and its dissociation in the twinned nanopillars.