Molecular dynamics investigations of the strengthening of Al-Cu alloys during thermal ageing

Classical molecular dynamics simulations of the interaction of edge dislocations with solid soluted copper atoms and Guinier-Preston zones (I and II) in aluminium are performed using embedded atom method potentials. Hereby, the strengthening mechanism and its modulus are identified for different stages of thermally aged Al-Cu alloys. Critical resolved shear stresses are calculated for different concentrations of solid soluted copper. In case of precipitate strengthening, the Guinier-Preston zone size, its orientation and offset from the dislocation plane are taken as simulation parameters. It is found that in case of solid soluted copper, the critical resolved shear stress is proportional to the copper concentration. In case of the two subsequent aging stages both the dislocation depinning mechanism as well as the depinning stress are highly dependent on the Guinier-Preston zone orientation and to a lesser degree to its size.