Dislocation density evolution and interactions in crystalline materials Original Research Article

Dislocation density-based evolution formulations that are related to a heterogeneous microstructure and are physically representative of different crystalline interactions have been developed. The balance between the generation and annihilation of dislocations, through glissile and forest interactions at the slip system level, is taken as the basis for the evolution of mobile and immobile dislocation densities. The evolution equations are coupled to a multiple slip crystal plasticity formulation, and a framework is established that relates it to a general class of crystallographies and deformation modes. Specialized finite element (FE) methodologies have then been used to investigate how certain dislocation density activities, such as dislocation density interactions and immobilization, are directly related to strain hardening and microstructure evolution. The predictions are validated with channel die compressed (CDC) experiments, and are consistent with inelastic deformation modes of fcc metals.