Computational analysis of short-range interactions between an edge dislocation and an array of equally-spaced identical shearable or non-shearable precipitates

Abstract: The interaction between dislocations and precipitates plays an important role in the mechanical behavior of alloys. To provide more insight into the physics of this interaction, this research analyzes short-range interactions of an edge dislocation with an array of equally-spaced identical precipitates. We use a modified dislocation dynamics approach accounting for penetrable and impenetrable precipitates. This research quantifies the effects of precipitate resistance on the geometry of the dislocation-precipitation interaction and the local distribution of plastic strain near a precipitate. The results show that a precipitate with a higher resistance causes an increase in the maximum value of dislocation curvature during the bypass. In addition, a higher level of precipitate resistance leads to a lower level of plastic deformation. Moreover, we observed a high plastic strain gradient at the interface of non-shearable precipitates.