Multilayers; nanostructured materials; molecular dynamics; nucleation theory; yield locus

The mechanical behavior of nanoscale ceramic–metallic (NbC/Nb) multilayer composites with dif

ferent thickness ratios is investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. Based on the

 obtained stress–strain behavior and its dependence on temperature, strain rate, and loading path,

the flow stress for the onset of plasticity is identified and modeled based on the nucleation theory,

and the in-plane yield loci for different layer thicknesses are constructed. The results are used to