Plastic　deformation　of　small-scale　crystals　proceeds　through　a　sequence　of　intermittent　plastic　instabilities　characteristic　of　strain　bursts.　In　this　work　we　construct　the　relation　between　second-order　work　and　strain　burst　in　single-crystalline　micropillar　plasticity.　Based　on　energy　conservation,　theoretical　analyses　are　performed　on　the　relation　between　second-order　work　and　strain　burst.　Furthermore,　finite　element　analysis　with　the　recently　proposed　intermittent　plasticity　model　is　employed　to　simulate　the　strain　bursts　and　to　compute　their　values　of　second-order　work.　Both　the　simulation　results　and　the　theoretical　analysis　show　that　the　occurrence　of　strain　burst　corresponds　to　a　vanishing　of　the　second　order　work.　Finally,　physical　understanding　of　the　relation　between　the　second-order　work　and　the　strain　burst　is　attempted.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.