Molecular dynamics simulations were made of the interactions between glissile interstitial loops and an edge dislocation in a face-centered cubic crystal. This revealed the occurrence of atomic-scale reactions which led to pinning of the dislocation by the loops; which were dragged along when the dislocation was un-pinned. This atomic-scale information was then incorporated into a micromechanical model. The predictions of the model at the micron-scale were compared with the initial hardening, and subsequent softening, of irradiated specimens which was observed experimentally during traction tests.

Irradiation Hardening by Interstitial Loops - Atomistic Study and Micromechanical Model. D.Rodney, G.Martin, Y.Bréchet: Materials Science and Engineering A, 2001, 309-310, 198–202