Nanoscale phase field microelasticity theory of dislocations: Model and 3Dsimulations

The first Phase Field model of evolution of a multi-dislocation system in e lastically anisotropic crystal under applied stress is formulated. The mode l is a modification and extension of our Phase Field Microelasticity approa ch to the theory of coherent phase transformations. The long-range strain-i nduced interaction of individual dislocations is calculated exactly and is explicitly incorporated in the Phase Field formalism. It also automatically takes into account the effects of "short-range interactions", such as mult iplication and annihilation of dislocations and a formation of various meta stable microstructures involving dislocations and defects. The proposed 3-d imensional Phase Field model of dislocations does not impose a priori const raints on possible dislocation structures or their evolution paths. Example s of simulation of the FCC 3D system under applied stress are considered. ( C) 2001 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.