A nodal dislocation dynamics model was developed for simulating plastic processes in face-centered cubic crystals. The model explicitly accounted for all of the slip systems and Burgers vectors observed in face-centered cubic systems; including stacking faults and partial dislocations. Simple conservation rules were derived that rigorously described all of the partial dislocation interactions and permitted the modelling and quantification of cross-slip processes, structure and strength of dislocation junctions and the formation of specific face-centered cubic structures such as stacking fault tetrahedra. The dislocation dynamics framework was built upon isotropic non-singular linear elasticity, and was supported by information transmitted from the atomistic scale. Thus, the connection between the meso- and micro-scales was attained self-consistently; with all of the material parameters fitted to atomistic data. A series of targeted simulations was performed in order to demonstrate the capabilities of the model with regard to dislocation reaction and dissociation, and dislocation junction-strength. The four-dimensional stress space relevant to cross-slip was mapped, and the findings were related to the plastic behaviour of monocrystalline face-centered cubic metals.

Atomistically Informed Dislocation Dynamics in FCC Crystals. E.Martínez, J.Marian, A.Arsenlis, M.Victoria, J.M.Perlado: Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 2008, 56[3], 869-95