Title: The elastic fields of sub-surface dislocation loops: a comparison between analytical continuum-theory solutions and atomistic calculations

Authors: Peihua Jing, Tariq A. Khraishi, Luis A. Zepeda-Ruiz, Brian D. Wirth

Addresses: Structural Integrity Associates, 3315 Almaden Expressway, Suite 24, San Jose, CA 95118, USA. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, University of New Mexico, MSC01-1150, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. ' Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Condensed Matter and Materials Division, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, P.O. Box 808, L-367, Livermore, CA 94550 USA. ' Department of Nuclear Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Abstract: The effect of irradiation on the microstructure of metals often produces a high number density of dislocation loops, consisting of self-interstitial platelets. In dislocation theory these damage clusters are treated as prismatic dislocation loops. The elastic fields of such loops are solved analytically in the literature typically for loops in an infinite material. Near a free surface this solution is altered by image stresses. This work presents an analytically derived solution for the elastic fields of a sub-surface rectangular dislocation loop in a half material. Resulting surface displacements are compared against Molecular Dynamics (MD) computations for Tungsten.

Keywords: dislocation theory; half medium; surface topology; radiation damage; dislocation loops; irradiation; microstructure; elastic fields; molecular dynamics; tungsten; rectangular Volterra dislocation loop.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTAMM.2009.022472

International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Multiscale Mechanics, 2009 Vol.1 No.1, pp.71 - 85

Published online: 08 Jan 2009 *

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