Computer simulations of the dislocation glide in a gamma '-strengthened superalloy: the effects of the dislocation character

Analytical models of the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) of a crystal always involve the assumption of a line tension. This variable - even thou gh helpful for general considerations - is only a rough approximation for t he elastic self interaction of a dislocation. Moreover, it strongly depends on the dislocation character, leading to different predictions for the CRS S. For a real material of course the CRSS is unequivocal. By means of compu ter simulations some light is shed on the question which dislocation charac ter governs the CRSS in case of the gamma'-strengthened nickel base superal loy NIMONIC PE16.