A general method was presented, based upon transmission electron microscopic observations of the segmented shape of dislocations under stress, for measuring the decrease in dislocation self-energy when they were locked in specific orientations. The general formulation was given for any direction of locking in any material, and the method was exemplified in the case of the hexagonal phases of a Ti-based alloy, where a significant in-core rearrangement reduced the energy of screw dislocations by about 16%.

Direct Measurement of the Variation in the Energy of a Dislocation Locked in Specific Orientations. J.Douin, P.Castany, F.Pettinari-Sturmel, A.Coujou: Acta Materialia, 2009, 57[2], 466-73