Abstract:Discontinuous yielding of metal materials during room-temperature deformation is a critical scientific issue that significantly affects their mechanical properties and application safety. This review summarized recent research advancements in this field, with a focus on the characteristics, influencing factors, and underlying mechanisms of discontinuous yielding. The discontinuous yielding phenomenon was mainly characterized by a yield drop and a stress plateau on the stress-strain curve. Results show that microstructural characteristics such as alloy composition, degree of recrystallization, grain size and morphology, as well as phase composition and stability, serve as primary factors influencing discontinuous yielding. These factors affect the yielding behavior by regulating dislocation movement and deformation mechanisms. Furthermore, the intrinsic relationship among discontinuous yielding, room-temperature deformation mechanism, and the work hardening behavior in metallic materials was explored. Based on current research, future studies should focus on the microstructure regulation, alloy design, deformation mechanisms, and the development of constitutive models to deepen the understanding of discontinuous yielding and to provide a foundation for optimizing material properties.