Molecular Dynamics Simulation of FCC Metallic Nanowires: A Review

Molecular dynamic simulation studies are reviewed to understand the influence of strain rate, temperature, and cross-section size on the mechanical properties of face-centered cubic (FCC) metallic nanowires (MNWs). The yield stress of FCC MNWs is found to be 100 times higher than that of the corresponding bulk metals. The yield strain and fracture stress of MNWs are also found to be significantly higher compared with those of the bulk metals. The influence of deformation mechanisms (slip and twinning) on the mechanical properties of FCC MNWs is discussed. FCC MNWs are found to exhibit novel structural reorientation, phase transformation, elastic recovery, pseudoelasticity, and shape memory effect. MNWs with body-centered cubic (BCC) and hexagonal closed-packed crystal structures are compared with the FCC MNWs. Pseudoelasticity was also observed in BCC MNWs similar to that of FCC MNWs. Dense nano-twin arrays were found in Mg nanowires despite the high twin boundary energy.