| Abstract Scope |
Crystalline interfaces (grain boundaries (GBs)) are vital to understanding the deformation behavior of materials. As such, it becomes important to study different GB mechanisms (sliding, migration, dislocation emission) and how the interplay between these mechanisms dictates the overall interfacial strength. In this study, we leverage continuum-based metrics to identify and delineate individual GB mechanisms by mapping changes in local atomic environments during deformation. Insights into kinematic signatures of GB mechanisms and their linkages with GB structures are discussed. We further calculate contributions of GB mechanisms to the overall deformation based upon amount of microstructural strain accommodation. It is shown that the strength of interfaces is closely linked with the underlying mechanistic competition. Finally, strategies to rationally tailor the interfacial properties by altering the governing mechanistic landscape, are presented. This study will inform avenues to engineer interfaces in functional materials geared towards superior properties, like, improved nanocrystalline stability or radiation tolerance. |