Atomistic simulation of the interaction between mobile edge dislocations and radiation-induced defects in Fe-Ni-Cr austenitic alloys

The classical molecular dynamics method is employed to simulate the interaction of edge dislocations with interstitial Frank loops (2 and 5 nm in diameter) in the Fe-Ni₁₀-Cr₂₀ model alloy at the temperatures T = 300–900 K. The examined Frank loops are typical extended radiation-induced defects in austenitic steels adapted to nuclear reactors, while the chosen triple alloy (Fe-Ni₁₀-Cr₂₀) has the alloying element concentration maximally resembling these steels. The dislocation-defect interaction mechanisms are ascertained and classified, and their comparison with the previously published data concerning screw dislocations is carried out. The detachment stress needed for a dislocation to overcome the defect acting as an obstacle is calculated depending on the material temperature, defect size, and interaction geometry. It is revealed that edge dislocations more efficiently absorb small loops than screw ones. It is demonstrated that, in the case of small loops, the number of reactions accompanied by loop absorption increases with temperature upon interaction with both edge and screw dislocations. It is established that Frank loops are stronger obstacles to the movement of screw dislocations than to the movement of edge ones.     

镍铬合金中的位错运动与位错反应

对镍铬合金中单一滑移面内和两个滑移面间的位错反应,特别是动态下的反应,进行了透射电子显微镜观察,并对其中的一些位错组态进行了衍衬分析。1.六角位错网络主要是单一滑移面内柏氏矢量相差120°的两组位错间反应的结果;2.与螺型位错一样,刃型或混合型位错也能在两个滑移面间交滑移;3.两个滑移面间的位错反应有时在其截线方向生成不滑动的位错(如L.C.位错锁)并不能完全阻挡住这两个滑移面上的位错运动;4.在含铝、钛的镍铬合金中,超点阵位错的反应与不含铝、钛的合金或无序固溶体中的位错反应相似。 关键词：     

Atomistic Simulations of the Effect of Helium on the Dissociation of Screw Dislocations in Nickel

The interactions of He with dissociated screw dislocations in face-centered-cubic(fcc) Ni are investigated by using molecular dynamics simulations based on an embedded-atom method model.The binding and formation energies of interstitial He in and near Shockley partial cores are calculated.The results show that interstitial He atoms at tetrahedral sites in the perfect fcc lattice and atoms occupying sites one plane above or below one of the two Shockley partial cores exhibit the strongest binding energy.The attractive or repulsive nature of the interaction between interstitial He and the screw dislocation depends on the relative position of He to these strong binding sites.In addition,the effect of He on the dissociation of screw dislocations are investigated.It is found that He atoms homogeneously distributed in the glide plane can reduce the stacking fault width.     

A computational approach towards modelling dislocation transmission across phase boundaries

To study the nanoscopic interaction between edge dislocations and a phase boundary within a two-phase microstructure the effect of the phase contrast on the internal stress field due to the dislocations needs to be taken into account. For this purpose a 2D semi-discrete model is proposed in this paper. It consists of two distinct phases, each with its specific material properties, separated by a fully coherent and non-damaging phase boundary. Each phase is modelled as a continuum enriched with a Peierls–Nabarro (PN) dislocation region, confining dislocation motion to a discrete plane, the glide plane. In this paper, a single glide plane perpendicular to and continuous across the phase boundary is considered. Along the glide plane bulk induced shear tractions are balanced by glide plane shear tractions based on the classical PN model. The model's ability to capture dislocation obstruction at phase boundaries, dislocation pile-ups and dislocation transmission is studied. Results show that the phase contrast in material properties (e.g. elastic stiffness, glide plane properties) alone creates a barrier to the motion of dislocations from a soft to a hard phase. The proposed model accounts for the interplay between dislocations, external boundaries and phase boundary and thus represents a suitable tool for studying edge dislocation–phase boundary interaction in two-phase microstructures.     

Elastic interaction between two parallel dislocations in non-parallel slip planes

The elastic interaction between two parallel dislocations which can glide in non-parallel slip planes is studied under the simplifying assumption that the dislocation glide velocity is proportional to stress. The motion of the two dislocations is represented by a motion of one reference point in a configuration plane. It is concluded that the contribution of the long-range elastic interaction between individual dislocations from different slip systems to work hardening is negligible, compared to the contribution from the formed attractive junctions. Especially, two parallel edge dislocations with mutually perpendicular Burgers vectors can co-exist in minimum energy positions, however, they can be separated by an arbitrarily small external stress.     

Atomic modeling of irradiation-induced hardening

We review recent results obtained by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations on the elementary interaction mechanisms between dislocations and irradiation defects, with the aim to obtain a fundamental understanding of plasticity in irradiated metals. The reactions obtained included defect shear, drag and absorption in edge and screw dislocations. We present the state of the art in both FCC and BCC metals and discuss the challenges faced by MD simulations, in particular in BCC metals in order to realistically simulate the thermally-activated glide of screw dislocations in the presence of obstacles. To cite this article: D. Rodney, C. R. Physique 9 (2008).     

Emission of dislocations from grain boundaries by grain boundary dissociation

In this article, we examine the conditions that favour the emission of Shockley partial dislocations (SPDs) that standoff from a grain boundary (GB) plane by a few lattice parameters as part of the atomic structure of some GBs. To do so, we consider GBs to be formed by the operation of arrays of intrinsic grain boundary dislocations (GBDs) that create the tilt and twist misorientation, and the lattice mismatch between the two crystal grains adjoining the GB. The conditions to be considered that favour SPDs are the following: (1) Frank’s rule, (2) the proper sequential arrangement of partial dislocations to bound an intrinsic stacking fault and (3) the equilibrium stand-off distance (ESD). We apply an isotropic elasticity analysis to compute the ESD, in the absence of an applied stress, for SPDs emerging from asymmetric tilt GBs in two FCC metals, Cu and Al. The ESD is shown to be dependent on the glide plane orientation relative to the GB plane and on the position of the glide planes, relative to the position of the GBDs. An applied stress increases the ESD up to a critical stress that removes the SPDs without limit from the GB. We examine the effect of the stacking fault energy on the ESD and critical stress. The critical stress is effectively linearly dependent on the stacking fault energy. Finally, we present results of atomistic simulations of asymmetric tilt Σ11[1?0?1]{4?1?4}||{2?5?2} GBs in Cu bicrystal models subject to shock loading that behave in a manner similar to the elasticity predictions. The atomistic simulations reveal additional behaviour associated with elastic incompatibility between the two grains in the bicrystal models.     

Interaction of Lomer–Cottrell locks with screw dislocations

In fcc crystals, dislocations are dissociated into partial dislocations and, therefore, restricted to move on {111} glide planes. By junction reactions with dislocations on two intersecting {111} planes, Lomer–Cottrell dislocations along ?110? directions can be formed which are barriers for approaching screw dislocations. Treating the interaction between a dissociated screw dislocation and a LC lock conventionally, using classical continuum theory and assuming the partials to be Volterra dislocations, leads to erroneous conclusions. A realistic result can only be obtained in the framework of the Peierls model, treating the partials as Peierls dislocations and explicitly taking account of the change in atomic misfit energy in the glide plane. At even moderate stresses (at less than 3 × 10^?3 µ in Cu), the screw will combine with the LC lock to form a Hirth lock. As a result, the nature of the repulsive force will change drastically.     

A dislocation dynamics study of the strength of stacking fault tetrahedra. Part I: interactions with screw dislocations

We present a comprehensive dislocation dynamics (DD) study of the strength of stacking fault tetrahedra (SFT) to screw dislocation glide in fcc Cu. Our methodology explicitly accounts for partial dislocation reactions in fcc crystals, which allows us to provide more detailed insights into the dislocation–SFT processes than previous DD studies. The resistance due to stacking fault surfaces to dislocation cutting has been computed using atomistic simulations and added in the form of a point stress to our DD methodology. We obtain a value of 1658.9 MPa, which translates into an extra force resolved on the glide plane that dislocations must overcome before they can penetrate SFTs. In fact, we see they do not, leading to two well differentiated regimes: (i) partial dislocation reactions, resulting in partial SFT damage, and (ii) impenetrable SFT resulting in the creation of Orowan loops. We obtain SFT strength maps as a function of dislocation glide plane-SFT intersection height, interaction orientation, and dislocation line length. In general SFTs are weaker obstacles the smaller the encountered triangular area is, which has allowed us to derive simple scaling laws with the slipped area as the only variable. These laws suffice to explain all strength curves and are used to derive a simple model of dislocation–SFT strength. The stresses required to break through obstacles in the 2.5–4.8-nm size range have been computed to be 100–300 MPa, in good agreement with some experimental estimations and molecular dynamics calculations.     

A parametric simulation method for discrete dislocation dynamics

A new computer simulation method employed in discrete dislocation dynamics is presented. The article summarizes results of an application of the method to elementary interactions among glide dislocations and dipolar dislocation loops. The glide dislocations are represented by parametrically described curves moving in glide planes whereas the dipolar loops are treated as rigid objects. All mutual force interactions are considered in the models. As a consequence, the computational complexity rapidly increases with the number of objects considered. This difficulty is treated by advanced computational techniques such as suitable accurate numerical methods and parallel implementation of the algorithms. Therefore the method is able to simulate particular phenomena of dislocation dynamics which occur in crystalline solids deformed by single slip: generation of glide dislocations from the Frank-Read source, interaction of glide dislocations with obstacles, their encounters in channels of the bands, sweeping of dipolar loops by glide dislocations and a loop clustering.     

Calculations of Lengths of Dislocation Combinations in FCC Crystals

In the present work, lengths of dislocation combinations formed as a result of interaction of reacting dislocations in noncoplanar glide systems are calculated. A new model is suggested in which the geometry of dislocation combination is considered for an arbitrary asymmetrical intersection of dislocation segments. The lengths of dislocation combinations are determined on the example of one dislocation reaction. The statistics of an arbitrary intersection of the reacting dislocations are considered for an arbitrary (from screw to edge) orientation of a glissile dislocation.     

Cross-slip in face-centered cubic metals: a general Escaig stress-dependent activation energy line tension model

Cross-slip is a dislocation mechanism by which screw dislocations can change their glide plane. This thermally activated mechanism is an important mechanism in plasticity and understanding the energy barrier for cross-slip is essential to construct reliable cross-slip rules in dislocation models. In this work, we employ a line tension model for cross-slip of screw dislocations in face-centred cubic (FCC) metals in order to calculate the energy barrier under Escaig stresses. The analysis shows that the activation energy is proportional to the stacking fault energy, the unstressed dissociation width and a typical length for cross-slip along the dislocation line. Linearisation of the interaction forces between the partial dislocations yields that this typical length is related to the dislocation length that bows towards constriction during cross-slip. We show that the application of Escaig stresses on both the primary and the cross-slip planes varies the typical length for cross-slip and we propose a stress-dependent closed form expression for the activation energy for cross-slip in a large range of stresses. This analysis results in a stress-dependent activation volume, corresponding to the typical volume surrounding the stressed dislocation at constriction. The expression proposed here is shown to be in agreement with previous models, and to capture qualitatively the essentials found in atomistic simulations. The activation energy function can be easily implemented in dislocation dynamics simulations, owing to its simplicity and universality.     

Which stresses affect the glide of screw dislocations in bcc metals?

By direct application of stress in molecular statics calculations we identify the stress components that affect the glide of 1/2?111? screw dislocations in bcc tungsten. These results prove that the hydrostatic stress and the normal stress parallel to the dislocation line do not play any role in the dislocation glide. Therefore, the Peierls stress of the dislocation cannot depend directly on the remaining two normal stresses that are perpendicular to the dislocation but, instead, on their combination that causes an equibiaxial tension-compression (and thus shear) in the plane perpendicular to the dislocation line. The Peierls stress of 1/2?111? screw dislocations then depends only on the orientation of the plane in which the shear stress parallel to the Burgers vector is applied and on the magnitude and orientation of the shear stress perpendicular to the slip direction.     

Specific features of the dynamic behavior of a screw dislocation under excitation of transverse dislocation vibrations

The dynamic retardation of the motion of screw dislocations at point defects is investigated taking into account the excitation of transverse vibrations of dislocation elements both in the glide plane and in the plane normal to it. It is shown that the inclusion of the vibrations of the dislocation elements in the plane normal to the glide plane does not change the dependence of the retarding force on the glide rate and defect concentration but considerably increases the magnitude of this force (specifically in the case of the isotropic model, the retarding force increases by a factor of 2).     

A model for the dynamics of loop drag by a gliding dislocation

Clusters of self-interstitial atoms are formed in metals by high-energy displacement cascades, often in the form of small dislocation loops with a perfect Burgers vector. In isolation, they are able to undergo fast, thermally activated glide in the direction of their Burgers vector, but do not move in response to a uniform stress field. The present work considers their ability to glide under the influence of the stress of a gliding dislocation. If loops can be dragged by a dislocation, it would have consequences for the effective cross-section for dislocation interaction with other defects near its glide plane. The lattice resistance to loop drag cannot be simulated accurately by the elasticity theory of dislocations, so here it is investigated in iron and copper by atomic-scale computer simulation. It is shown that a row of loops lying within a few nanometres of the dislocation slip plane can be dragged at very high speed. The drag coefficient associated with this process has been determined as a function of metal, temperature and loop size and spacing. A model for loop drag, based on the diffusivity of interstitial loops, is presented. It is tested against data obtained for the effects of drag on the stress to move a dislocation and the conditions under which a dislocation breaks away from a row of loops.     

Simulation of the formation of a glide band

The initial stage in the development of a glide band in NaCl crystals is simulated. The process of double cross slip of segments of screw dislocations was examined according to the scheme proposed by Wiedersich. A quantitative estimate of the parameters characterizing the development of the glide band is made: structures and rate of expansion of the band, average slip distance of the dislocations, dislocation density, and others. The degree to which the different parameters affect the development of the glide band is established: ratio of the edge and screw dislocation velocities, as well as the lattice friction stress of dislocations.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshykh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 9, pp. 82–96, September, 1981.     

Structure, stability, and motion of dislocations in double-wall carbon nanotubes

In this paper,a novel double-wall carbon nanotube(DWCNT) with both edge and screw dislocations is studied by using the molecular dynamics(MD) method.The differences between two adjacent tubule indexes of armchair and zigzag nanotubes are determined to be 5 and 9,respectively,by taking into account the symmetry,integrality,and thermal stability of the composite structures.It is found that melting first occurs near the dislocations,and the melting temperatures of the dislocated armchair and zigzag DWCNTs are around 2600 K-2700 K.At the premelting temperatures,the shrink of the dislocation loop,which is comprised of edge and screw dislocations,implies that the composite dislocation in DWCNTs has self-healing ability.The dislocated DWCNTs first fracture at the edge dislocations,which induces the entire break in axial tensile test.The dislocated DWCNTs have a smaller fracture strength compared to the perfect DWCNTs.Our results not only match with the dislocation glide of carbon nanotubes(CNTs) in experiments,but also can free from the electron beam radiation under experimental conditions observed by the high resolution transmission electron microscope(HRTEM),which is deemed to cause the motion of dislocation loop.     

Defect structure in EuS single crystals grown from the melt

The defect structure in EuS single crystals grown form the melt is studied by etch pitting, scanning and high-voltage electron microscopy. Circular and square etch pits and a second phase in the shape of thin hexagonal platelets are observed by etching. Microprobe analysis indicates the platelets to consist of Eu metal. In the transmission electron microscope, smoothly curved dislocations and helical dislocations, small dislocation loops and inclusions associated with dislocations are observed. The possible origin of the detected dislocation structure is considered with reference to climb and glide processes occurring during cooling down the grown crystals. The results corroborate the glide geometry of the NaCl lattice for EuS. On leave from Institute of Physics, Academic Sinica, Peking, VR China     

Influence of the phonon viscosity and dislocation interaction on the glide of a pair of edge dislocations in a crystal with point defects

The motion of a pair of edge dislocations in an elastic field of point defects is investigated taking into account the interaction of dislocations both with each other and with the phonon subsystem of the crystal. It is demonstrated that the retarding force is a nonmonotonic function of the velocity of dislocation glide with two extrema displayed under certain conditions.     

Interface dislocation structures at the onset of coherency loss in nanoscale Ni–Cu bilayer films

We have performed a transmission electron microscopy study, using weak beam imaging, of the interface dislocation arrays that form initially at the (001) Ni–Cu interface during coherency loss. Interface dislocations were absent in the 2.5?nm Ni/100?nm Cu bilayers, but were present in the 3.0?nm Ni samples, indicating that the critical Ni film thickness for coherency loss is between 2.5 and 3?nm. The key features of the interface dislocation structure at the onset of coherency loss are: (i) the majority of interface dislocations are 60° dislocations, presumably formed by glide of threading dislocations in the coherently stressed Ni layer, and have Burgers vector in the {111} glide plane; (ii) the interface contained approximately 5% Lomer edge dislocations, with Burgers vector in the {001} interface plane, and an occasional Shockley partial dislocation and (iii) isolated segments of interface dislocations terminating at the surface are regularly observed. Possible mechanisms that lead to these dislocation configurations at the interface are discussed. This experimental study shows that near the critical thickness, accumulation of interface dislocations occurs in a somewhat stochastic fashion with favourable regions where coherency is first lost.