A theoretical analytical model of temperature and irradiation dose dependent yield strength of metal materials under irradiation hardening effect

In this work, the Force-Heat Equivalence Energy Density Principle are extended and applied to characterize the effects of temperature and irradiation dose on the yield strength of metal materials. By introducing the energy of incident particles during the irradiation process to characterize the irradiation hardening effect, and based on the contribution to material yield, an equivalent relationship between the elastic deformation energy per unit volume of metal materials, the stored thermal energy, and the energy consumed for the formation of irradiation defects is established. Furthermore, a theoretical characterization model for temperature and irradiation dose dependent yield strength of metal materials under irradiation hardening effect is established. The model has been reasonably validated by the obtained experimental data. Meanwhile, the model only needs the yield strength at room temperature and the yield strength at arbitrary temperature and arbitrary irradiation dose to conveniently and effectively predict the yield strength at different temperatures and different irradiation doses. Based on the established model, the influence of Young's modulus on yield strength and its evolution with temperature and irradiation dose was quantitatively analyzed. This research work provides a quantitative tool for monitoring metal materials under different temperature and irradiation dose environments and also provides a theoretical basis for researching and designing irradiation resistant materials suitable for a wide temperature range.