A numerical method was used to investigate the interaction between an edge dislocation and a misfitting precipitate in an anisotropic material. The technique was based upon the concept of configurational (material) forces in linear elasticity. After briefly discussing the theory of configurational forces, a generalized balance equation was obtained to calculate the material forces on the defects under consideration. Utilizing a semi-analytical method via a finite element formulation, the generalized balance equation was solved and results were presented for the diffusion process and the dislocation movement in a cubic material. Furthermore, the microstructural change of the inclusion morphology associated with this interaction was discussed. In order to simplify the situation, a purely dilatational misfit of the inclusion was considered and no far-field stresses were taken into account.

On the Interaction between an Edge Dislocation and a Coherent Precipitate in Anisotropic Materials. S.Kolling, R.Mueller, D.Gross: Computational Materials Science, 2007, 39[4], 829-35