Computational and theoretical aspects of a grain-boundary model at finite deformations

A model to describe the role of grain boundaries in the overall response of a polycrystalline material at small length scales subject to finite deformations is presented. Three alternative thermodynamically consistent plastic flow relations on the grain boundary are derived and compared using a series of numerical experiments. The numerical model is obtained by approximating the governing relations using the finite element method. In addition, the infinitesimal and finite deformation theories are compared, and the limitations of the former made clear