Problems of the mesomechanics of strength and plasticity of nanostructured materials

The results of the investigations performed in collaboration with our co-workers are reviewed and used to formulate a conceptual framework of the physical mesomechanics of nanostructured materials. Low plasticity of materials of this kind is associated with suppression of the microscale deformation due to the motion of dislocations and with development of meso- and macroscale localized-deformation bands. For an optimum combination of strains at the micro- and mesoscale levels, formation of a nanocrystalline structure provides high strength and plastic properties of the materials. Strain localization at the macroscale level impairs the strength and plasticity of nanostructured materials.