High-resolution 3D microscale finite element models were developed based on FIB-SEM observations to accurately reproduce the complex pore structure of sintered Ag nanoparticle bodies. Then, numerical material testing simulations were conducted to analyze tensile behavior. The elastic analysis successfully reproduced the experimental elastic modulus of 39.3 GPa, confirming that the elastic properties are primarily determined by the pore structure rather than simple porosity correction. However, elasto-plastic analysis considering local stress concentrations and yielding could not fully capture the nonlinear behavior observed experimentally in the low-strain region. The results suggest that structural factors alone cannot explain the nonlinearity, indicating that material factors such as grain boundaries formed during sintering significantly influence the mechanical response and require further investigation.
OKUHIRA et al. (Wed,) studied this question.