Image stresses in a free-standing thin film

Three-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) has been used success fully to investigate different aspects of plasticity. An investigation of t hin-film plasticity with the help of these DDD schemes requires detailed mo delling of the interfaces and surfaces of the film. One possible method is to compensate for the normal stresses that a dislocation population exerts on a surface by appropriate point loads. This traction compensation method is extended to a free standing film, where the interaction of the two oppos ing free surfaces must be tal;en into account. The influence of the free su rfaces on the operation of a Frank-Read source is investigated.