Rafting mechanism for Ni-base superalloy under external stress: elastic or elastic–plastic phenomena?

Rafting mechanism in Ni-base single-crystal superalloys has been discussed with the total mechanical energy calculated for typical microstructures. We found that the actual rafting phenomena cannot be explained within the coherent elastic regime. The present calculations reveal that (i) only the transverse rafted structure with laminates normal to the stress direction can be realized, regardless of tensile or compressive stresses, and (ii) the lattice misfit is not relevant to the choice of the rafted structures. However, when the eigenstrain of the spherical (dilatational) symmetry changes into that of the tetragonal symmetry with misfit dislocations on the γ/ γ′ interfaces, the signs of lattice misfit and external stress govern the choice of the transverse or longitudinal rafts. It is concluded that the rafting belongs to an elastic–plastic phenomenon.