Anomalous size effects in nanoporous materials induced by high surface energies

Several experiments and molecular dynamics calculations have reported anomalous mechanical behaviors of nanoporous materials that may be attributed to capillary effects. For example, nanoporous gold exhibits a tension–compression asymmetry in yield strength with the material being stronger in compression than tension. In addition, some molecular dynamics calculations have reported a spontaneous collapse of pores in nanoporous gold with nanometer-sized ligaments. Despite these perplexing observations, there are few theoretical models capable of shedding light on such capillary phenomena, particularly under general stress states. Here, we utilize a physics-based model to explore the implications of high surface energies on the mechanical response of dislocation-starved nanoporous materials subject to general stress states. For low stress triaxialities, we report an anomalous size effect and an anomalous temperature-dependence of dislocation-starved nanoporous materials with sufficiently large surface energies. Additionally, we provide an analytic criterion for spontaneous pore collapse in nanoporous materials with nanometer-sized ligaments.