Strain rate dependence of mechanical behaviour and evaluation of the microstructure of tungsten monocrystals

Monocrystals of tungsten were compressed in 110 direction at three loading velocities (from 10E-4 to 2 times 10E+2 1/s) to investigate the macroscopic mechanical behaviour as a function of strength, deformability and the fracture mechanism. Microstructural evaluations were made by TEM and correlated to the strain rates investigated. A description of the macroscopic and microscopic behaviour of tungsten monocrystals and its concomitant relationships between both strain and strain rate is obtained.