Bending martensite needles in (formula presented) investigated by two-dimensional elasticity and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy

The bending and tapering of microtwin needles at the interface between two martensite laminates in (formula presented) are addressed. A theory is presented, based on the assumption that the microstructure is essentially stress-free; it predicts a linear relationship between the bending and tapering of the needles. The predictions of this theory are compared to experimental data obtained by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The agreement between theory and experiment is good, thus bridging the gap between continuum theory and discrete atomic structure, particularly in the region where the bending and tapering are largest.