A new method was developed to calculate the Peierls stress (τp) in the semi-discrete variational Peierls framework. It provided a physically transparent view of the variation of the dislocation core while overcoming the Peierls barrier, and with a minor extension it could simulate the coordination between leading and trailing partial dislocations. Calculations show that the relaxation of the slip profile reduced the Peierls stress and the unstable stacking fault energy played a critical role in determining τp.

Dislocation Movement over the Peierls Barrier in the Semi-Discrete Variational Peierls Framework. Y.Shen, X.Cheng: Scripta Materialia, 2009, 61[5], 457-60