Hierarchical models of plasticity: dislocation nucleation and interaction

One avenue being pursued in the development of dislocation-based models of plasticity is the explicit simulation of the dynamics of dislocations, base d on the recognition that such dislocations are the carriers of plasticity. The construction of models of dislocation dynamics requires insights into both the nucleation and interaction of dislocations, many of the details of which fall outside the domain of validity of the linear theory of elastici ty The aim of the present paper is to show how preliminary steps have been made to elucidate the mechanisms of dislocation nucleation and interaction, and to illustrate how such information can be imported into explicit model s of dislocation dynamics. This effort reflects, in part. the research prog ram of Gilles Canova, to whom the present volume is dedicated and to whom t he authors dedicate this paper.