The influence of grain size on the work hardening of face-centred cubic polycrystals

Stress-strain data were obtained over a wide range of grain sizes for brass, copper and aluminium. A Hall-Petch relation was found not to describe work hardening in the cases of copper and aluminium. An approach to polycrystal work hardening, based in part on Ashby’s concepts, was also unsuccessful in describing the behaviour of the same materials. These results indicate the need for a new viewpoint on the influenoe of grain size on polycrystal work hardening.