Questioning size effects as predicted by strain gradient plasticity

Abstract

The analytical solution of the elastic-plastic response of a two-phase laminate microstructure subjected to periodic simple shear loading conditions is derived considering strain gradient and micromorphic plasticity models successively. One phase remains purely elastic, whereas the second one displays an isotropic elastic-plastic behavior. Although no classic hardening is introduced at the individual phase level, the laminate is shown to exhibit an overall linear hardening scaling with the inverse of the square of the cell size. The micromorphic model leads to a saturation of the hardening at small length scales in contrast to Aifantis strain gradient plasticity model displaying unlimited hardening. The models deliver qualitatively relevant size effects from the physical metallurgical point of view, but fundamental quantitative discrepancy is pointed out and discussed, thus requiring the development of more realistic nonlinear equations in strain gradient plasticity.