The limitation that the dislocation pileup model holds in the individual gr
ains of nanocrystalline materials is analyzed qualitatively. It is shown th
at the microstructure of nanocrystalline materials has a decisive effect on
the formation of dislocation pileups in the grains. The theoretical result
s can explain the experimental observations well. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science
S.A. All rights reserved.