Role of interface structure on the plastic response of Cu/Nb nanolaminates under shock compression: Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations

We utilize non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations to reveal the dislocation processes underlying the recently observed pronounced effect of bimetal interface structures on the plastic response of Cu/Nb nanolayered composites to shock compression. Critical shock pressures to nucleate and transmit dislocations across an atomically flat interface are shown to be substantially higher than those from a faceted interface, due to atomic-level interface characteristics that cause these two types of interfaces to nucleate, absorb and transmit dislocations by significantly different mechanisms. (C) 2012 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.