Temperature-dependent elastic properties of alpha-beryllium from first principles

• Using density functional theory formulated within the framework of the exact muffin-tin orbitals method, we investigate the temperature dependence of the structural parameters and the elastic properties of the hexagonal closed-packed phase of Be (alpha-Be). We find that the elastic constants follow a normal behavior with temperature: decrease with increasing temperature with a slightly increasing slope. Up to the melting point, the monocrystalline elastic constants decrease by an average of 16% and the polycrystalline elastic constants by 10%. These trends contradict the large temperature factor observed in high-temperature direct pulse ultrasonic experiments. At the same time, the low-temperature pulse echo measurements confirm the present theoretical findings. Our results call for further accurate experimental studies on the elastic properties of alpha-Be at high temperatures.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

total-energy calculations

wave basis-set

ab-initio

constants

metals

approximation

magnesium

behavior

modulus

surface

Physics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)