Size and stress dependences in the tensile stress relaxation of thin copper wires at room temperature

The tensile stress relaxation behavior of thin copper wires with diameters of 20, 35 and 50 μm is experimentally investigated at room temperature. It is revealed that the stress relaxation can occur at low starting stress below the yield strength at room temperature. Significant size and stress dependences in the stress relaxation are observed. That is at a given stress, a smaller-diameter sample exhibits a much faster stress relaxation. At a...