Influence of micro-inhomogeneity of plastic deformation in metals on their strength

Abstract
A simplified model of metal behavior is developed accounting for inhomogeneous (on micro-level) plastic deformation and used for explanation of strength decrease at high strain rates, that follows from experiments on impact indentation. According to this model an increase of plastic strain rate leads to increased influence of microinhomogeneity of plastic flow on strength (decrease of strength). Such influence is insignificant at small plastic strain and low strain rate.