A multi-scale algorithm for dislocation creep at elevated temperatures

Dislocation creep at elevated temperatures plays an important role for plastic deformation in crystalline metals. When using traditional discrete dislocation dynamics(DDD) to capture this process, we often need to update the forces on N dislocations involving ～N~2 interactions. In this letter, we introduce a multi-scale algorithm to speed up the calculations by dividing a sample of interest into sub-domain grids:dislocations within a characteristic area interact following the conventional way, but their interaction with dislocations in other grids are simplified by lumping all dislocations in another grid as a super one. Such a multi-scale algorithm lowers the computational load to ～N 1.5. We employed this algorithm to model dislocation creep in Al-Mg alloy. The simulation leads to a power-law creep rate in consistent with experimental observations. The stress exponent of the power-law creep is a resultant of dislocations climb for ～5 and viscous dislocations glide for ～3.     

位错动力学方法在辐照损伤力学中的应用

核能是人类最理想的清洁能源之一,在世界能源结构中发挥着巨大作用。核裂变或核聚变导致的辐照环境会引起材料的辐照损伤,进而显著影响材料的力学性能,造成辐照硬化、脆化、蠕变、肿胀等现象。无论是预测辐照材料的服役寿命,还是设计新型的抗辐照材料,都迫切需要建立强辐照环境下的塑性力学和损伤力学理论。分子动力学方法为理解辐照材料中的原子级相互作用机理提供了诸多有价值的信息,然而受限于时空尺度难以直接用于力学理论模型的建立。晶体塑性有限元方法可用于预测辐照材料的力学响应,但是往往需要基于已知的物理模型,并且拟合实验数据。位错动力学方法是联系纳米力学与连续介质力学的桥梁,是揭示大量微结构的累积相互作用机理,建立基于物理机制的塑性力学和损伤力学理论的强有力手段。位错动力学方法起源于上个世纪八十年代,起初主要用于研究位错间的短程和长程相互作用、计算位错运动引起的塑性变形、硬化、软化、变形局部化等。本文将展示三种耦合位错动力学和辐照损伤场的方法,并系统地综述研究者近年来使用该方法在理解辐照硬化、塑性变形局部化、晶界效应、温度效应、和发展多尺度耦合方法等方面取得的进展。     

位错动力学方法在辐照损伤力学中的应用

核能是人类最理想的清洁能源之一,在世界能源结构中发挥着巨大作用。核裂变或核聚变导致的辐照环境会引起材料的辐照损伤,进而显著影响材料的力学性能,造成辐照硬化、脆化、蠕变、肿胀等现象。无论是预测辐照材料的服役寿命,还是设计新型的抗辐照材料,都迫切需要建立强辐照环境下的塑性力学和损伤力学理论。分子动力学方法为理解辐照材料中的原子级相互作用机理提供了诸多有价值的信息,然而受限于时空尺度难以直接用于力学理论模型的建立。晶体塑性有限元方法可用于预测辐照材料的力学响应,但是往往需要基于已知的物理模型,并且拟合实验数据。位错动力学方法是联系纳米力学与连续介质力学的桥梁,是揭示大量微结构的累积相互作用机理,建立基于物理机制的塑性力学和损伤力学理论的强有力手段。位错动力学方法起源于上个世纪八十年代,起初主要用于研究位错间的短程和长程相互作用、计算位错运动引起的塑性变形、硬化、软化、变形局部化等。本文将展示三种耦合位错动力学和辐照损伤场的方法,并系统地综述研究者近年来使用该方法在理解辐照硬化、塑性变形局部化、晶界效应、温度效应、和发展多尺度耦合方法等方面取得的进展。     

An atomistically-informed dislocation dynamics model for the plastic anisotropy and tension-compression asymmetry of BCC metals

Atomistic simulations have shown that a screw dislocation in body-centered cubic (BCC) metals has a complex non-planar atomic core structure. The configuration of this core controls their motion and is affected not only by the usual resolved shear stress on the dislocation, but also by non-driving stress components. Consequences of the latter are referred to as non-Schmid effects. These atomic and micro-scale effects are the reason slip characteristics in deforming single and polycrystalline BCC metals are extremely sensitive to the direction and sense of the applied load. In this paper, we develop a three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (DD) simulation model to understand the relationship between individual dislocation glide behavior and macro-scale plastic slip behavior in single crystal BCC Ta. For the first time, it is shown that non-Schmid effects on screw dislocations of both {110} and {112} slip systems must be implemented into the DD models in order to predict the strong plastic anisotropy and tension-compression asymmetry experimentally observed in the stress-strain curves of single crystal Ta. Incorporation of fundamental atomistic information is critical for developing a physics-based, predictive meso-scale DD simulation tool that can connect length/time scales and investigate the underlying mechanisms governing the deformation of BCC metals.     

Effect of solutes on dislocation motion —a phase-field simulation

Based on recent advances in phase-field models for integrating phase and defect microstructures as well as dislocation dynamics, the interactions between diffusional solutes and moving dislocations under applied stresses are studied in three dimensions. A new functional form for describing the eigenstrains of dislocations is proposed, eliminating the dependence of the magnitude of the dislocation Burgers vector on the applied stress and providing correct stress fields of dislocations. A relationship between the velocity of the dislocation and the applied stress is obtained by theoretical analysis and numerical simulations. The operation of Frank–Read sources in the presence of diffusional solutes, the effect of chemical interactions in solid solution on the equilibrium distribution of Cottrell atmosphere, and the drag effect of Cottrell atmosphere on dislocation motion are examined. The results demonstrate that the phase-field model correctly describes the long-range elastic interactions and short-range chemical interactions that control dislocation motion.     

Singularity-free dislocation dynamics with strain gradient elasticity

The singular nature of the elastic fields produced by dislocations presents conceptual challenges and computational difficulties in the implementation of discrete dislocation-based models of plasticity. In the context of classical elasticity, attempts to regularize the elastic fields of discrete dislocations encounter intrinsic difficulties. On the other hand, in gradient elasticity, the issue of singularity can be removed at the outset and smooth elastic fields of dislocations are available. In this work we consider theoretical and numerical aspects of the non-singular theory of discrete dislocation loops in gradient elasticity of Helmholtz type, with interest in its applications to three dimensional dislocation dynamics (DD) simulations. The gradient solution is developed and compared to its singular and non-singular counterparts in classical elasticity using the unified framework of eigenstrain theory. The fundamental equations of curved dislocation theory are given as non-singular line integrals suitable for numerical implementation using fast one-dimensional quadrature. These include expressions for the interaction energy between two dislocation loops and the line integral form of the generalized solid angle associated with dislocations having a spread core. The single characteristic length scale of Helmholtz elasticity is determined from independent molecular statics (MS) calculations. The gradient solution is implemented numerically within our variational formulation of DD, with several examples illustrating the viability of the non-singular solution. The displacement field around a dislocation loop is shown to be smooth, and the loop self-energy non-divergent, as expected from atomic configurations of crystalline materials. The loop nucleation energy barrier and its dependence on the applied shear stress are computed and shown to be in good agreement with atomistic calculations. DD simulations of Lomer–Cottrell junctions in Al show that the strength of the junction and its configuration are easily obtained, without ad-hoc regularization of the singular fields. Numerical convergence studies related to the implementation of the non-singular theory in DD are presented.     

Coupled DDD–FEM modeling on the mechanical behavior of microlayered metallic multilayer film at elevated temperature

To investigate the mechanical behavior of the microlayered metallic thin films (MMMFs) at elevated temperature, an enhanced discrete-continuous model (DCM), which couples rather than superposes the two-dimensional climb/glide-enabled discrete dislocation dynamics (2D-DDD) with the linearly elastic finite element method (FEM), is developed in this study. In the present coupling scheme, two especial treatments are made. One is to solve how the plastic strain captured by the DDD module is transferred properly to the FEM module as an eigen-strain; the other is to answer how the stress field computationally obtained by the FEM module is transferred accurately to the DDD module to drive those discrete dislocations moving correctly. With these two especial treatments, the interactions between adjacent dislocations and between dislocation pile-ups and inter-phase boundaries (IBs), which are crucial to the strengthening effect in MMMFs, are carefully taken into account. After verified by comparing the computationally predicted results with the theoretical solutions for a dislocation residing in a homogeneous material and nearby a bi-material interface, this 2D-DDD/FEM coupling scheme is used to model the tensile mechanical behaviors of MMMFs at elevated temperature. The strengthening mechanism of MMMFs and the layer thickness effect are studied in detail, with special attentions to the influence of dislocation climb on them.     

Atomistically informed dislocation dynamics in fcc crystals

We develop a nodal dislocation dynamics (DD) model to simulate plastic processes in fcc crystals. The model explicitly accounts for all slip systems and Burgers vectors observed in fcc systems, including stacking faults and partial dislocations. We derive simple conservation rules that describe all partial dislocation interactions rigorously and allow us to model and quantify cross-slip processes, the structure and strength of dislocation junctions, and the formation of fcc-specific structures such as stacking fault tetrahedra. The DD framework is built upon isotropic non-singular linear elasticity and supports itself on information transmitted from the atomistic scale. In this fashion, connection between the meso and micro scales is attained self-consistently, with all material parameters fitted to atomistic data. We perform a series of targeted simulations to demonstrate the capabilities of the model, including dislocation reactions and dissociations and dislocation junction strength. Additionally we map the four-dimensional stress space relevant for cross-slip and relate our findings to the plastic behavior of monocrystalline fcc metals.     

镍单晶薄膜纳米压痕的准连续介质模拟

用准连续介质方法模拟了大规模原子的镍薄膜在纳米压痕下发生初始塑性变形的行为.主要得到了:(1)载荷-位移响应.在载荷位移曲线上除了反应晶体弹性性质的直线外还有数次的载荷突然下降过程.(2)位错形核现象.与载荷-位移曲线上的载荷突然下降相对应的在受压的晶体上发现了位错形核现象,说明载荷的下降是因为位错形核引起的.(3)位错的发射机制.用Peierls-Nabarro位错模型以及能量法分析了位错的发射机制,理论值与计算值吻合较好.(4)几何必需位错密度.用一个简单的模型计算了几何必须位错密度.此外还考虑了边界条件对模拟结果的影响.     

Multiscale modeling of the plasticity in an aluminum single crystal

This paper describes a numerical, hierarchical multiscale modeling methodology involving two distinct bridges over three different length scales that predicts the work hardening of face centered cubic crystals in the absence of physical experiments. This methodology builds a clear bridging approach connecting nano-, micro- and meso-scales. In this methodology, molecular dynamics simulations (nanoscale) are performed to generate mobilities for dislocations. A discrete dislocations numerical tool (microscale) then uses the mobility data obtained from the molecular dynamics simulations to determine the work hardening. The second bridge occurs as the material parameters in a slip system hardening law employed in crystal plasticity models (mesoscale) are determined by the dislocation dynamics simulation results. The material parameters are computed using a correlation procedure based on both the functional form of the hardening law and the internal elastic stress/plastic shear strain fields computed from discrete dislocations. This multiscale bridging methodology was validated by using a crystal plasticity model to predict the mechanical response of an aluminum single crystal deformed under uniaxial compressive loading along the [4 2 1] direction. The computed strain-stress response agrees well with the experimental data.     

A mesoscale investigation of strain rate effect on dynamic deformation of single-crystal copper

A combined finite element (FE) simulation and discrete dislocation dynamics (DD) approach has been developed in this paper to investigate the dynamic deformation of single-crystal copper at mesoscale. The DD code yields the plastic strain based on the slip of dislocations and serves as a substitute for the 3D constitutive form used in the usual FE computation, which is implemented into ABAQUS/Standard with a user-defined material subroutine. On the other hand, the FE code computes the displacement and stress field during the dynamic deformation. The loading rate effects on the yield stress and the deformation patterning of single-crystal copper are investigated. With the increasing of strain rate, the yield stress of single-crystal copper increases rapidly. A critical strain rate exists in each single-crystal copper block for the given size and dislocation sources, below which the yield stress is relatively insensitive to the strain rate. The dislocation patterning changes from non-uniform to uniform under high-strain-rate. The shear stresses in the bands are higher than that in the neighboring regions, which are formed shear bands in the crystal. The band width increases with the strain rate, which often take places where the damage occurs.     

A multi-scale computational model of crystal plasticity at submicron-to-nanometer scales

Plastic flow in crystal at submicron-to-nanometer scales involves many new interesting problems. In this paper, a unified computational model which directly combines 3D discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) and continuum mechanics is developed to investigate the plastic behaviors at these scales. In this model, the discrete dislocation plasticity in a finite crystal is solved under a completed continuum mechanics framework: (1) an initial internal stress field is introduced to represent the preexisting stationary dislocations in the crystal; (2) the external boundary condition is handled by finite element method spontaneously; and (3) the constitutive relationship is based on the finite deformation theory of crystal plasticity, but the discrete plastic strains induced by the slip of the newly nucleated or propagating dislocations are calculated by dislocation dynamics methodology instead of phenomenological evolution equations used in conventional crystal plasticity. These discrete plastic strains are then localized to the continuum material points by a Burgers vector density function proposed by us. Various processes, such as loop dislocation evolution, dislocation junction formation etc., are simulated to verify the reliability of this computational model. Specifically, a uniaxial compression test for micro-pillars of Cu is simulated by this model to investigate the ‘dislocation starvation hardening’ observed in the recent experiment.     

Simulation for surface self-nanocrystallization under shot peening

Driven by high frequency and multi-directional shot peens, dislocations of various orientations proliferate into the metal, and accumulate in high density in the surface layer of a shallow depth. Migration, generation and annihilation of dislocations dictate the evolution of mobile dislocation density. Simulation for the experiment of pure iron under repeated shot peen flux of 800 times per square millimeter is carried out, and a dislocation density up to 2.17×10¹¹ mm⁻² is achieved. Dislocations of such density in the surface layer are shown to be capable of forming nano-grains whose size is about 10 nm. Molecular dynamics simulation verifies the formation of nano-grained metals at such dislocation density level. The dislocations are first regrouped to form subcrystallites, then combined to form stable nanocrystallized grains after sufficiently long time of relaxation. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10121202)     

A physically based gradient plasticity theory

The intent of this work is to derive a physically motivated mathematical form for the gradient plasticity that can be used to interpret the size effects observed experimentally. The step of translating from the dislocation-based mechanics to a continuum formulation is explored. This paper addresses a possible, yet simple, link between the Taylor’s model of dislocation hardening and the strain gradient plasticity. Evolution equations for the densities of statistically stored dislocations and geometrically necessary dislocations are used to establish this linkage. The dislocation processes of generation, motion, immobilization, recovery, and annihilation are considered in which the geometric obstacles contribute to the storage of statistical dislocations. As a result, a physically sound relation for the material length scale parameter is obtained as a function of the course of plastic deformation, grain size, and a set of macroscopic and microscopic physical parameters. Comparisons are made of this theory with experiments on micro-torsion, micro-bending, and micro-indentation size effects.     

Dislocation behaviours ahead of crack tip

In this paper, a unified mechanics model for dislocation nucleation, emission and dislocation free zone is proposed based on the Peierls framework. Three regions are identified ahead of the crack tip. The emitted dislocations within the plastic zone in the form of an inverse pile up are treated as discrete elastic edge dislocations. Between that zone and the cohesive zone immediately ahead of the crack tip, there is a dislocation free zone. With the stress field and the dislocation density field in the cohesive zone, respectively, expressed in the first and second Chebyshev polynomial series, and the opening and slip displacements in trigonometric series, a set of nonlinear governing equations are obtained which take into account for the interaction between the emitted dislocations and cohesive zone and the nonlinear interaction between sliding displacement and the opening displacement. After discretization, the governing equations are transformed into a set nonlinear algebraic equations which are solved with Newton-Raphson Method. The results of calculation for pure shearing and combined tension and shear loading after dislocation emission are given in detail. Finally, the process of dislocation nucleation and emission on a pair of symmetric slip planes of angle α with respect to the crack plane under pure mode I load is analysed. The equilibrium positions and the number of emitted dislocation are determined. Several possible competition behaviors of dislocation emission vs cleavage are revealed.     

Shocks and slip systems: Predictions from a mesoscale theory of continuum dislocation dynamics

Exploring a recently developed mesoscale continuum theory of dislocation dynamics, we derive three predictions about plasticity and grain boundary formation in crystals. (1) There is a residual stress jump across grain boundaries and plasticity-induced cell walls as they form, which self-consistently acts to attract neighboring dislocations; residual stress in this theory appears as a remnant of the driving force behind wall formation under both polygonization and plastic deformation. We derive the predicted asymptotic late-time dynamics of the grain-boundary formation process. (2) During grain boundary formation at high temperatures, there is a predicted cusp in the elastic energy density. (3) In early stages of plasticity, when only one type of dislocation is active (single-slip), cell walls do not form in the theory; instead we predict the formation of a hitherto unrecognized jump singularity in the dislocation density.     

An analysis of exhaustion hardening in micron-scale plasticity

The rate-dependent behavior of micron-scale model planar crystals is investigated using the framework of mechanism-based discrete dislocation plasticity. Long-range interactions between dislocations are accounted for through elasticity. Mechanism-based constitutive rules are used to represent the short-range interactions between dislocations, including dislocation multiplication and dislocation escape at free surfaces. Emphasis is laid on circumstances where the deformed samples are not statistically homogeneous. The calculations show that dimensional constraints selectively set the operating dislocation mechanisms, thus giving rise to the phenomenon of exhaustion hardening whereby the applied strain rate is predominantly accommodated by elastic deformation. When conditions are met for this type of hardening to take place, the calculations reproduce some interesting qualitative features of plastic deformation in microcrystals, such as flow intermittency over coarse time-scales and large values of the flow stress with no significant accumulation of dislocation density. In addition, the applied strain rate is varied down to 0.1 s⁻¹ and is found to affect the rate of exhaustion hardening.     

Dislocation-density function dynamics – An all-dislocation,full-dynamics approach for modeling intensive dislocation structures

It has long been recognized that a successful strategy for computational plasticity will have to bridge across the meso scale in which the interactions of high quantities of dislocations dominate. In this work, a new meso-scale scheme based on the full dynamics of dislocation-density functions is proposed. In this scheme, the evolution of the dislocation-density functions is derived from a coarse-graining procedure which clearly defines the relationship between the discrete-line and density representations of the dislocation microstructure. Full dynamics of the dislocation-density functions are considered based on an “all-dislocation” concept in which statistically stored dislocations are preserved and treated in the same way as geometrically necessary dislocations. Elastic interactions between dislocations in a 3D space are treated in accordance with Mura's formula for eigen stress. Dislocation generation is considered as a consequence of dislocations to maintain their connectivity, and a special scheme is devised for this purpose. The model is applied to simulate a number of intensive microstructures involving discrete dislocation events, including loop expansion and shrinkage under applied and self stress, dipole annihilation, and Orowan looping. The scheme can also handle high densities of dislocations present in extensive microstructures.