Taylor-based nonlocal theory of plasticity

A Taylor-based nonlocal theory of plasticity is proposed to account for the size dependence of plastic deformation at micron and submicron length scal es. This theory is intended to link Taylor's model of dislocation hardening to a nonlocal theory of plasticity in which the density of geometrically n ecessary dislocations is expressed as a nonfocal integral of the strain fie ld. We make application of this theory to void growth, cavitation instabili ties and particle-reinforced composites, as well as comparison with experim ents on micro-torsion, micro-bending and micro-indentation. (C) 2001 Elsevi er Science Ltd. All rights reserved.