Uniform finite facets are frequently observed at grain boundaries (GBs) and are usually attributed to equilibrium stabilization by GB stress. We report calculations for an aluminum twin GB using density functional theory, the embedded-atom method, and continuum elasticity theory. These methods show that GB stress is much too small to stabilize finite facets, suggesting that the usual explanation is incorrect.

• Received 22 January 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.246102