Grain boundary sliding and structure. Progress report, December 1, 1974-- November 30, 1975

Load relaxation experiments were performed in the region where the grain matrix plastic deformation is important on type 316 stainless steel and a zircaloy specimen, and the data are being analyzed. Anelastic deformation in pure aluminum was investigated. A dislocation glide-controlled anelastic component is identified which may be governed by the same laws as those for plastic deformation at low temperature and/or high plastic strain rate. The investigation of grain boundary sliding in type 316 stainless steel is being continued. Experimental data without the influence of thermal aging are successfully obtained. Load relaxation data on single crystal and polycrystal nickel specimens show that the constant hardness curves of these specimens belong to two different families. The growth of the grain boundary cavity under applied stress and irradiation has been analyzed. It is found that the normal stress at the grain boundary which is the driving force for atomic transport controlled cavity growth can be relaxed by grain boundary sliding. (auth