DIRECT OBSERVATION OF A PLASTIC-DEFORMATION AUTOWAVE IN A ZIRCONIUM ALLOY

An analysis is made of the evolution of local deformations during the elongation of samples of fine-grained zirconium alloy. It is establish ed that the deformation distribution patterns exhibit ordered behavior where the types of ordering are closely related to the stages of the deformation curve. The results are compared with similar data from stu dies of the deformation fields of single-crystal and polycrystalline m aterials with different types of crystal structures and deformation mi cromechanisms. It is noted that all these similar results, including t hose of the present study, may be interpreted using autowave represent ations. (C) 1998 American Institute of Physics. [S1063-7850(98)00501-1 ].