Institute of Fundamental Technological Research

The energy criterion of stability of equilibrium is used to predict the formation of discrete twin bands running across the grains of polycrystalline solids. An uncontrolled rapid development of a twin band is assumed to occur when the associated release of elastic energy compensates the interfacial energy and intrinsic dissipation due to twinning. A simplified analysis is performed that leads to compact analytic formulae for the thickness of a twin band and for the critical resolved stress. The creation of subsequent discrete twin bands in a finite solid can be separated by the periods of quasistatic growth of existing twins under varying loads. An application of the energy criterion to twinning in TiAl intermetallics and its verification by observed data for the thickness of a twin band are presented.