A generalized Peierls–Nabarro model for curved dislocations and core structures of dislocation loops in Al and Cu

Abstract In this paper, we present a generalized Peierls–Nabarro model for curved dislocations. In the generalized Peierls–Nabarro model, the anisotropic elastic energy is obtained efficiently by solving the elasticity system associated with the disregistry across the slip plane using the fast Fourier transform method, and the generalized stacking fault energy is used for the interplanar potential across the slip plane. Simulation results are reported on the core structures and the activation energies of dislocation loops in Al and Cu, incorporating both the elastic anisotropy and the full disregistry vector in the slip plane.