Equilibrium and passing properties of dislocation dipoles

Abstract

Static and dynamic properties of dislocation dipoles are investigated under isotropic and anisotropic elasticity. In elastically isotropic systems for a dislocation character between 35 and 40°, a dipole assumes the same stress-free equilibrium angle of 90° as the screw dipole. This can be affected by elastic anisotropy, as in Cu where the equilibrium angle assumed by a screw dipole (≈59°) is unchanged up to a dislocation character of 22°. In contrast, the static properties of near-edge dislocation dipoles are little influenced by elastic anisotropy. Certain dipole passing properties, not the passing stress however, are also modified by elastic anisotropy. For large heights and/or in the case of undissociated dislocations, the minimum passing stress corresponds to a dipole character of ∼60° and it exhibits a sharp maximum in screw orientation. Reasonably moderate dislocation reorientations should facilitate the passing of near-screw dislocations in fatigue channels. Within a certain range of applied stresses, the passing of dipoles, comprised of unlike attractive dislocations, is accompanied by the sweeping of one dislocation by the other over a limited distance. Dissociation plays a prominent role in determining both static and dynamic properties for dipole heights less than a few times the dissociation distance of an isolated dislocation.

Acknowledgments

We are indebted to Dr Devincre and to Professors Kratochvil, Mughrabi and Saada for challenging and fruitful discussions during the preparation of this paper. We are also extremely grateful to Professor Niewczas who kindly provided the cyclically deformed Cu single crystal.