Survey of plateau behaviour in the cyclic stress-strain curve of copper single crystals

Experimental results relating to the plateau behaviour in the cyclic stress -strain (CSS) curve of copper single crystals located on different sides of the stereographic triangle are summarized. Unlike the situation for single -slip-oriented crystals, the crystallographic orientation has a strong effe ct on the plateau behaviour in the CSS curves of double- and multiple-slip- oriented crystals. The existence or non-existence of a plateau in the CSS c urves, as well as the corresponding plateau stress amplitude, depend not on ly on the modes and intensities of dislocation interactions among slip syst ems operating in the crystals but also on the slip deformation characterist ics associated with crystal orientations. The plateau region in CSS curve d isappears only when multiple slip plays a determining role during cyclic de formation.