A theoretical description of the two-step deformation of intermetallics

The paper deals with the analysis of the two-step deformation of intermetallics where the yield stress possesses a temperature anomaly. Different schemes of deformation were studied. The principal differences between the schemes are whether the transition from one step of deformation to the other is accompanied by increasing or decreasing temperature and whether the said transition takes place at a high or low degree deformation. A unified approach to the description of the two-step deformation is proposed. The approach considers that for the plastic flow to occur, it is necessary to overcome, on the one hand, the thermally active blocking of dislocation sources and, on the other hand, elastic stress fields of the existing dislocation structure.