Geometrical analysis of 3D dislocation dynamics simulations of FCC micro-pillar plasticity

A geometrical analysis of 3D dislocation dynamics simulations of FCC micro-pillar plasticity shows that the insertion of jogged dislocations before relaxation or enabling cross-slip during plastic flow are prerequisites for the formation of potentially strong natural pinning points and single arm dislocation sources. Absent these conditions, we argue that mobile dislocation starvation will occur naturally in the course of plastic flow and lead to a state in which plastic flow is controlled by the nucleation of dislocations, most likely at the free surfaces.