On the stress dependence of subgrain size

A simple model of the dynamic balance between deformation-induced dislocation generation and climb-controlled dislocation annihilation in subgrain walls results in a stress-subgrain size relationship which involves various properties including the creep stress exponent and the creep diffusivity. The implications of the environmental dependence of the stress-subgrain size relation with regard to its use as a palaeopiezometer in naturally deformed minerals are discussed.