A pre-martensitic elastic anomaly in nanomaterials: elasticity of surface and interface layers

A pre-martensitic elastic anomaly inside the stability field of the phase is predicted. While relaxation patterns near surfaces interfaces are relatively insensitive to changes of pressure, an occurs as a precursor to the ferroelastic transition. The relaxation pattern maintains its characteristic length but amplitude, like in the elastic softening of bulk materials. effect is not related to the movement of interfaces but an intrinsic feature of the surface and interface layers. effect is expected to be observable in ceramics consisting of with 'soft' inter-granular interfaces. The general and an exactly solvable model are presented and analysed .