ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Deformation mechanism map

Okay kiddo, have you ever played with Play-Doh? When you squish it or bend it, the Play-Doh changes its shape, right? Well, imagine if you could study how the Play-Doh changes when you squish or bend it in different ways. That's what scientists do when they study how metals change when they are squished or bent.

They use a thing called a deformation mechanism map, which is basically a map that shows how different metals change when they are squished or bent. On this map, the scientists mark different regions, each representing a different way the metal can change.

For example, imagine you are pushing on a piece of Play-Doh until it flattens out. That's one way it can change. The scientists call that region "dislocation creep". If you bend the Play-Doh instead, that's another way it can change, and they call that region "twist/grain boundary sliding".

By looking at this map, scientists can predict how a metal will change if it is put under stress or pressure. This is really helpful for engineers who design things like airplane or car parts, because they want to make sure the parts won't break or change shape too much when they are used.

So, the deformation mechanism map is like a treasure map for scientists and engineers, helping them figure out how different metals will react when they are squished or bent in different ways.