Low-Temperature Plasticity in Olivine: Grain Size, Strain Hardening, and the Strength of the Lithosphere

Hansen, Lars N.; Kumamoto, Kathryn M.; Thom, Christopher A.; Wallis, David; Durham, William B.; Goldsby, David L.; Breithaupt, Thomas; Meyers, Cameron D.; Kohlstedt, David L.

doi:10.1029/2018jb016736

Title: Low-Temperature Plasticity in Olivine: Grain Size, Strain Hardening, and the Strength of the Lithosphere

Journal Article · Sun Mar 24 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jb016736· OSTI ID:1575005

^[1];

^[2];

^[3];

^[4];

^[5];

^[3];

^[1]; Meyers, Cameron D. ^[6];

^[6]

Univ. of Oxford (United Kingdom)
Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (United States)
Utrecht Univ. (Netherlands)
Massachusetts Inst. of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA (United States)
Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)

Plastic deformation of olivine at relatively low temperatures (i.e., low-temperature plasticity) likely controls the strength of the lithospheric mantle in a variety of geodynamic contexts. Unfortunately, laboratory estimates of the strength of olivine deforming by low-temperature plasticity vary considerably from study to study, limiting confidence in extrapolation to geological conditions. Here we present the results of deformation experiments on olivine single crystals and aggregates conducted in a deformation-DIA at confining pressures of 5 to 9 GPa and temperatures of 298 to 1473 K. These results demonstrate that, under conditions in which low-temperature plasticity is the dominant deformation mechanism, fine-grained samples are stronger at yield than coarse-grained samples, and the yield stress decreases with increasing temperature. All samples exhibited significant strain hardening until an approximately constant flow stress was reached. The magnitude of the increase in stress from the yield stress to the flow stress was independent of grain size and temperature. Cyclical loading experiments revealed a Bauschinger effect, wherein the initial yield strength is higher than the yield strength during subsequent cycles. Both strain hardening and the Bauschinger effect are interpreted to result from the development of back stresses associated with long-range dislocation interactions. We calibrated a constitutive model based on these observations, and extrapolation of the model to geological conditions predicts that the strength of the lithosphere at yield is low compared to previous experimental predictions but increases significantly with increasing strain. Our results resolve apparent discrepancies in recent observational estimates of the strength of the oceanic lithosphere.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Cite

Export

Save

Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). Advanced Photon Source (APS)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: NEM0009661; 55176; 1806791; EAR1661511

OSTI ID:: 1575005

Journal Information:: Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, Vol. 124, Issue 6; ISSN 2169-9313

Publisher:: American Geophysical UnionCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: ENGLISH

Citation Metrics:

Cited by: 38 works

Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (74)

Modelling of work hardening and stress saturation in FCC metals Nes, Erik Progress in Materials Science, Vol. 41, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0079-6425(97)00032-7	journal	July 1997
Micro-plasticity and recent insights from intermittent and small-scale plasticity Maaß, R.; Derlet, P. M. Acta Materialia, Vol. 143 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2017.06.023	journal	January 2018
Study of the interaction between the indentation size effect and Hall–Petch effect with spherical indenters on annealed polycrystalline copper Hou, X. D.; Bushby, A. J.; Jennett, N. M. Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics, Vol. 41, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3727/41/7/074006	journal	March 2008
Shear heating induced lithospheric-scale localization: Does it result in subduction? Thielmann, Marcel; Kaus, Boris J. P. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 359-360 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2012.10.002	journal	December 2012
A comparison of dislocation induced back stress formulations in strain gradient crystal plasticity Bayley, C. J.; Brekelmans, W. A. M.; Geers, M. G. D. International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 43, Issue 24 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2006.05.011	journal	November 2006
Six decades of the Hall–Petch effect – a survey of grain-size strengthening studies on pure metals Cordero, Z. C.; Knight, B. E.; Schuh, C. A. International Materials Reviews, Vol. 61, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1080/09506608.2016.1191808	journal	June 2016
On the Yield Strength of Oceanic Lithosphere Jain, Chhavi; Korenaga, Jun; Karato, Shun‐ichiro Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 44, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL075043	journal	October 2017
Dislocation recovery in olivine under deep upper mantle conditions: Implications for creep and diffusion Karato, Shun-Ichiro; Rubie, David C.; Yan, Hong Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 98, Issue B6 https://doi.org/10.1029/93JB00472	journal	January 1993
A model for the grain size dependent work hardening of copper Sinclair, C. W.; Poole, W. J.; Bréchet, Y. Scripta Materialia, Vol. 55, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scriptamat.2006.05.018	journal	October 2006
The deformation-DIA: A new apparatus for high temperature triaxial deformation to pressures up to 15 GPa Wang, Yanbin; Durham, William B.; Getting, Ivan C. Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 74, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1570948	journal	June 2003
Dislocation creep of fine-grained olivine Faul, U. H.; Fitz Gerald, J. D.; Farla, R. J. M. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 116, Issue B1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JB007174	journal	January 2011
Low-temperature olivine rheology at high pressure Raterron, Paul; Wu, Yujun; Weidner, Donald J. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Vol. 145, Issue 1-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2004.03.007	journal	July 2004
Gravity anomalies, flexure and mantle rheology seaward of circum-Pacific trenches Hunter, J.; Watts, A. B. Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 207, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1093/gji/ggw275	journal	July 2016
Low-temperature plasticity of olivine during high stress deformation of peridotite at lithospheric conditions — An experimental study Druiventak, Anthony; Trepmann, Claudia A.; Renner, Jörg Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Vol. 311, Issue 3-4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2011.09.022	journal	November 2011
Lithospheric deformation induced by loading of the Hawaiian Islands and its implications for mantle rheology: CONSTRAINING LITHOSPHERE RHEOLOGY Zhong, Shijie; Watts, A. B. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 118, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JB010408	journal	November 2013
The creep strength of the Earth's mantle Weertman, J. Reviews of Geophysics, Vol. 8, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1029/RG008i001p00145	journal	January 1970
Thermal expansion of periclase and olivine, and their anharmonic properties. Suzuki, Isao Journal of Physics of the Earth, Vol. 23, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.4294/jpe1952.23.145	journal	January 1975
A model for the effect of grain size on the yield stress of metals Meyersm, Marc A.; Ashworth, E. Philosophical Magazine A, Vol. 46, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1080/01418618208236928	journal	November 1982
The influence of grain boundaries on mechanical properties Hirth, J. P. Metallurgical Transactions, Vol. 3, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02661312	journal	December 1972
Materials mechanical size effects: a review Zhu, T. T.; Bushby, A. J.; Dunstan, D. J. Materials Technology, Vol. 23, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1179/175355508X376843	journal	December 2008
Grain boundary sliding in San Carlos olivine: Flow law parameters and crystallographic-preferred orientation Hansen, L. N.; Zimmerman, M. E.; Kohlstedt, D. L. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 116, Issue B8 https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JB008220	journal	January 2011
Experimental constraints on the dynamics of the partially molten upper mantle: 2. Deformation in the dislocation creep regime Hirth, Greg; Kohlstedt, David L. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 100, Issue B8 https://doi.org/10.1029/95JB01292	journal	August 1995
Stress evolution and associated microstructure during transient creep of olivine at 1000–1200 °C Thieme, M.; Demouchy, S.; Mainprice, D. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Vol. 278 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2018.03.002	journal	May 2018
Geometrically necessary dislocation densities in olivine obtained using high-angular resolution electron backscatter diffraction Wallis, David; Hansen, Lars N.; Ben Britton, T. Ultramicroscopy, Vol. 168 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultramic.2016.06.002	journal	September 2016
Effects of grain size on the dislocation density and flow stress of niobium Conrad, H.; Feuerstein, S.; Rice, L. Materials Science and Engineering, Vol. 2, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-5416(67)90032-8	journal	September 1967
Crystal–plastic deformation and recrystallization of peridotite controlled by the seismic cycle Matysiak, Agnes K.; Trepmann, Claudia A. Tectonophysics, Vol. 530-531 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2011.11.029	journal	March 2012
The elastic constants of San Carlos olivine to 17 GPa Abramson, E. H.; Brown, J. M.; Slutsky, L. J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 102, Issue B6 https://doi.org/10.1029/97JB00682	journal	June 1997
Fault rocks and fault mechanisms Sibson, R. H. Journal of the Geological Society, Vol. 133, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1144/gsjgs.133.3.0191	journal	March 1977
Observations of flexure and the rheology of oceanic lithosphere Watts, A. B.; Zhong, S. Geophysical Journal International, Vol. 142, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-246x.2000.00189.x	journal	September 2000
Limits on lithospheric stress imposed by laboratory experiments Brace, W. F.; Kohlstedt, D. L. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 85, Issue B11 https://doi.org/10.1029/JB085iB11p06248	journal	November 1980
Analysis of lattice strains measured under nonhydrostatic pressure Singh, Anil K.; Balasingh, C.; Mao, Ho-kwang Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 83, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.367872	journal	June 1998
Bending stress and dissipation in subducted lithosphere: BENDING STRESSES AND DISSIPATION Buffett, B. A.; Becker, T. W. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 117, Issue B5 https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JB009205	journal	May 2012
Olivine friction at the base of oceanic seismogenic zones Boettcher, Margaret S.; Hirth, Greg; Evans, Brian Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 112, Issue B1 https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JB004301	journal	January 2007
Scale dependent crystal plasticity framework with dislocation density and grain boundary effects Evers, L. P.; Brekelmans, W. A. M.; Geers, M. G. D. International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 41, Issue 18-19 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2004.04.021	journal	September 2004
An internal variable model of viscoplasticity Bammann, Douglas J. International Journal of Engineering Science, Vol. 22, Issue 8-10 https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7225(84)90105-8	journal	January 1984
Plastic flow of oriented single crystals of olivine: 1. Mechanical data Durham, W. B.; Goetze, C. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 82, Issue 36 https://doi.org/10.1029/JB082i036p05737	journal	December 1977
The Indentation Size Effect: A Critical Examination of Experimental Observations and Mechanistic Interpretations Pharr, George M.; Herbert, Erik G.; Gao, Yanfei Annual Review of Materials Research, Vol. 40, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-matsci-070909-104456	journal	June 2010
The plastic deformation of polycrystalline aggregates Armstrong, R.; Codd, I.; Douthwaite, R. M. The Philosophical Magazine: A Journal of Theoretical Experimental and Applied Physics, Vol. 7, Issue 73 https://doi.org/10.1080/14786436208201857	journal	January 1962
Size effects resolve discrepancies in 40 years of work on low-temperature plasticity in olivine Kumamoto, Kathryn M.; Thom, Christopher A.; Wallis, David Science Advances, Vol. 3, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1701338	journal	September 2017
Experimental deformation and recrystallization of olivine – processes and timescales of damage healing during postseismic relaxation at mantle depths Trepmann, C. A.; Renner, J.; Druiventak, A. Solid Earth, Vol. 4, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-423-2013	journal	January 2013
Non-local crystal plasticity model with intrinsic SSD and GND effects Evers, L. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, Vol. 52, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2004.03.007	journal	October 2004
Dislocation creep of calcite: DISLOCATION CREEP OF CALCITE Renner, Jörg; Evans, Brian; Siddiqi, Gunter Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 107, Issue B12 https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JB001680	journal	December 2002
Grain size dependence of the strength of metals: The Hall–Petch effect does not scale as the inverse square root of grain size Dunstan, D. J.; Bushby, A. J. International Journal of Plasticity, Vol. 53 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijplas.2013.07.004	journal	February 2014
Strength of the lithosphere: Constraints imposed by laboratory experiments Kohlstedt, D. L.; Evans, Brian; Mackwell, S. J. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 100, Issue B9 https://doi.org/10.1029/95JB01460	journal	September 1995
Elastic moduli, pressure derivatives, and temperature derivatives of single-crystal olivine and single-crystal forsterite Kumazawa, Mineo; Anderson, Orson L. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 74, Issue 25 https://doi.org/10.1029/JB074i025p05961	journal	November 1969
New measurements of activation volume in olivine under anhydrous conditions Durham, W. B.; Mei, S.; Kohlstedt, D. L. Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Vol. 172, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2008.07.045	journal	January 2009
The temperature variation of hardness of olivine and its implication for polycrystalline yield stress Evans, Brian; Goetze, Christopher Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 84, Issue B10 https://doi.org/10.1029/JB084iB10p05505	journal	January 1979
Low-temperature plasticity of olivine revisited with in situ TEM nanomechanical testing Idrissi, Hosni; Bollinger, Caroline; Boioli, Francesca Science Advances, Vol. 2, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1501671	journal	March 2016
Rheology of the lithosphere beneath the central and western Tien Shan: RHEOLOGY Of LITHOSPHERE IN TIEN SHAN England, Philip; Molnar, Peter Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 120, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JB011733	journal	May 2015
Deformation of olivine at subduction zone conditions determined from in situ measurements with synchrotron radiation Long, Hongbo; Weidner, Donald J.; Li, Li Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Vol. 186, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2011.02.006	journal	May 2011
High-temperature elasticity of iron-bearing olivines Isaak, Donald G. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, Vol. 97, Issue B2 https://doi.org/10.1029/91JB02675	journal	February 1992
Estimates of differential stress recorded in the dislocation structure of Lochseiten Limestone (Switzerland) Briegel, U.; Goetze, C. Tectonophysics, Vol. 48, Issue 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(78)90086-0	journal	June 1978
Theory of dislocations Cottrell, A. H. Progress in Metal Physics, Vol. 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/0502-8205(53)90018-5	journal	January 1953
Effect of pressure on the strength of olivine at room temperature Proietti, Arnaud; Bystricky, Misha; Guignard, Jérémy Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Vol. 259 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2016.08.004	journal	October 2016
The effect of orientation on the grain size dependence of the yield strength of metals Smith, E.; Worthington, P. J. Philosophical Magazine, Vol. 9, Issue 98 https://doi.org/10.1080/14786436408229186	journal	February 1964
Steady‐State Creep through Dislocation Climb Weertman, J. Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 28, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1722747	journal	March 1957
High-temperature creep of olivine single crystals 1. Mechanical results for buffered samples Bai, Q.; Mackwell, S. J.; Kohlstedt, D. L. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 96, Issue B2 https://doi.org/10.1029/90JB01723	journal	January 1991
Effect of grain size on the lower yield and flow stress of iron and steel Conrad, H. Acta Metallurgica, Vol. 11, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-6160(63)90134-2	journal	January 1963
The deformation of plastically non-homogeneous materials Ashby, M. F. The Philosophical Magazine: A Journal of Theoretical Experimental and Applied Physics, Vol. 21, Issue 170 https://doi.org/10.1080/14786437008238426	journal	February 1970
Precise stress measurements with white synchrotron x rays Weidner, Donald J.; Vaughan, Michael T.; Wang, Liping Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 81, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3263760	journal	January 2010
Constitutive Equations, Rheological Behavior, and Viscosity of Rocks Kohlstedt, D. L.; Hansen, L. N. Treatise on Geophysics https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53802-4.00042-7	book	April 2015
The Deformation and Ageing of Mild Steel: III Discussion of Results Hall, E. O. Proceedings of the Physical Society. Section B, Vol. 64, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1088/0370-1301/64/9/303	journal	September 1951
Modelling the rheology of MgO under Earth’s mantle pressure, temperature and strain rates Cordier, Patrick; Amodeo, Jonathan; Carrez, Philippe Nature, Vol. 481, Issue 7380 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10687	journal	January 2012
A crystallographic model for the study of local deformation processes in polycrystals Harder, Jörn International Journal of Plasticity, Vol. 15, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-6419(99)00002-9	journal	January 1999
Low‐temperature plastic rheology of olivine determined by nanoindentation Kranjc, Kelly; Rouse, Zachary; Flores, Katharine M. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 43, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL065837	journal	January 2016
The Thermally Activated Deformation of Crystalline Materials Evans, A. G.; Rawlings, R. D. physica status solidi (b), Vol. 34, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1002/pssb.19690340102	journal	January 1969
Kinetics of flow and strain-hardening Mecking, H.; Kocks, U. F. Acta Metallurgica, Vol. 29, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.1016/0001-6160(81)90112-7	journal	November 1981
The Hall–Petch effect as a manifestation of the general size effect Li, Y.; Bushby, A. J.; Dunstan, D. J. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 472, Issue 2190 https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2015.0890	journal	June 2016
Modelling the effect of pressure on the critical shear stress of MgO single crystals Amodeo, J.; Carrez, P.; Cordier, P. Philosophical Magazine, Vol. 92, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1080/14786435.2011.652689	journal	April 2012
An alternative physical explanation of the Hall–Petch relation Bata, Vladimir; Pereloma, Elena V. Acta Materialia, Vol. 52, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actamat.2003.10.002	journal	February 2004
Experimental constraints on the strength of the lithospheric mantle Mei, S.; Suzuki, A. M.; Kohlstedt, D. L. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 115, Issue B8 https://doi.org/10.1029/2009JB006873	journal	January 2010
Low strength of Earth’s uppermost mantle inferred from tri-axial deformation experiments on dry olivine crystals Demouchy, Sylvie; Tommasi, Andréa; Boffa Ballaran, Tiziana Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Vol. 220 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pepi.2013.04.008	journal	July 2013
Theory of dislocations Cottrell, A. H. Progress in Metal Physics, Vol. 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0502-8205(49)90004-0	journal	January 1949
High-temperature creep of olivine single crystals, 1, mechanical results for buffered samples Bai, Q.; Mackwell, S. J.; Kohlstedt, D. L. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences & Geomechanics Abstracts, Vol. 28, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(91)91231-f	journal	November 1991

Cited By (2)

Vickers indentation tests on olivine: size effects Koizumi, Sanae; Hiraga, Takehiko; Suzuki, Tohru S. Physics and Chemistry of Minerals, Vol. 47, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00269-019-01075-5	journal	January 2020
“Measures of Dissipation in Viscoelastic Media” Extended: Toward Continuous Characterization Across Very Broad Geophysical Time Scales Lau, Harriet C. P.; Holtzman, Benjamin K. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 46, Issue 16 https://doi.org/10.1029/2019gl083529	journal	August 2019

Similar Records

Experimental Constraints on the Strength of the Lithospheric Mantle

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Journal of Geophysical Research · OSTI ID:1575005

Mei, S; Suzuki, A; Kohlstedt, D; +2 more

Deformation of Olivine at Mantle Pressure using D-DIA

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2006 · European Journal of Mineralogy · OSTI ID:1575005

Li, L

The Effect of Intracrystalline Water on the Mechanical Properties of Olivine at Room Temperature

Journal Article · Wed Feb 21 00:00:00 EST 2024 · Geophysical Research Letters · OSTI ID:1575005

Kumamoto, Kathryn M.; Hansen, Lars N.; Breithaupt, Thomas; +7 more

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES

Title: Low-Temperature Plasticity in Olivine: Grain Size, Strain Hardening, and the Strength of the Lithosphere

Citation Formats

References (74)

Cited By (2)

Similar Records

Related Subjects