Breakdown of self-similar hardening Behavior in Au nanopillar microplasticity
J. Marian and J. Knap
International Journal for Multiscale Computational Engneering, 5, 287-294 (2008).

ABSTRACT
This article is concerned with the study of scale effects in Au nanopillars
under compression. We propose that plastic yielding in these nanostructures is
characterized by a critical length scale at which a transition from volumetric
to surface-dominated plasticity takes place. This transition effectively sets a
lower bound on the self-similar behavior commonly assumed in nanostrength
models. Using quasi-continuum simulations, we study the subcritical regime and
find that plasticity at these scales is governed by dislocation emission at
surface irregularities.