Point defect in solids: Shear dominance of the far-field energy

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the far-field elastic energy of a point defect in an isotropic solid is predominantly shear energy, with minimal contribution from volume changes, regardless of the bulk and shear modulus ratio.

Contribution

It reveals that shear energy dominates the far-field energy of point defects, challenging previous assumptions about volumetric contributions.

Findings

Less than 10% of defect energy is due to volume changes.

Shear elastic energy is the main component of far-field energy.

Results are independent of bulk and shear modulus ratio.

Abstract

It is shown that the elastic energy far from a point defect in an isotropic solid is mainly shear elastic energy. The calculation, which is based on a standard dipole expansion, shows that no matter how large or small the bulk modulus is compared to the shear modulus, less than 10% of the distant point defect energy is associated with volume changes.