The influence of specimen size on the mechanical behavior of Au pillars is studied by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the EAM potential.Under compression at 300 K,as the deformation of pillars is in the plastic stage,nucleation of partial dislocations is observed.The coupling effect of surface stress and thermal activation is considered when analyzing the size effect on the yield property of the Au pillars.It appears that both the tensile stress component and the temperature in the surface layer impart significant effect on the mechanical behaviors of the nano-sized Au pillars.
