Initial dislocation structures in 3-D discrete dislocation dynamics and their influence on microscale plasticity

Realistic dislocation network topologies were generated by relaxing an initially pinning point free dislocation loop structure using three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics simulations. Traction-free finite-sized samples were used. Subsequently, these equilibrated structures were subjected to tensile loading and their mechanical behavior was investigated with respect to the initial configuration. A strong mechanical size effect was found. The flow stress at 0.2% plastic deformation scales with specimen size with an exponent between −0.6 and −0.9, depending on the initial structure and size regime. During relaxation, a mechanism, also favored by cross-slip, is identified which leads to rather stable pinning points. These pinning points are comparable to those of the isolated Frank–Read sources often used as a starting configuration in previous discrete dislocation dynamics simulations. These nodes act as quite stable dislocation sources, which can be activated multiple times. The influence of this source mechanism on the mechanical properties of small-scale specimens is discussed.