Effect of grain size on the elastic properties of nanocrystalline α-iron

The effect of grain size on the elastic properties of nanocrystalline alpha-iron is reported using atomistic simulations. A softening of the elastic properties is observed for grain sizes ranging from 12 nm down to 6 nm. The decrease in the Young's and shear moduli with decreasing grain size is in agreement with experimental data and matches an analytical model based on the rule of mixtures for composite materials. (C) 2002 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.