Anelastic phenomena in metals and nonmetallics

Abstract

A review is given of the use of anelasticity, particularly as manifested by an internal friction peak as a function of frequency or of temperature, in the study of defects in crystalline materials. The formal theory for the case of a single relaxation time is reviewed, and then generalized to considerations of a distribution of relaxation times. The physical origins of anelasticity are next discussed, consideration being given to mechanisms related both to point defects and to dislocations. Finally, the best known and understood examples of anelastic behavior in metals and in ionic and semiconducting materials are reviewed.