Investigation of the elastic distortion fields for deformed FCC crystals: discrete dislocation dynamics simulations and experimental measurements

The statistical characteristics of dislocation-induced elastic distortion fi elds in deformed FCC crystals are investigated both experimentally and theoretically. Discrete dislocation realizations are generated by the discrete dislocation dynamics method and the induced elastic distortion fi elds are computed by solving the corresponding boundary value problem. Moreover, sample three-dimensional X-ray measurements for the lattice misorientation are also presented to address the corresponding statistical features and to highlight the possibility to conduct a comparison between experiments and dislocation dynamics simulations. This analysis addresses critical issues related to the similarities and differences, in terms of the spatial characteristics, between the elastic strain and lattice rotation fi elds induced by the same dislocation structure. Moreover, the signifi cance of the elastic strain fi eld contribution to the dislocation density tensor, which is usually considered insignifi cant during the experimental detection of the dislocation density tensor, is also investigated quantitatively. Finally, we present a preliminary comparison between the elastic distortion fi elds computed based on discrete dislocation simulations and those measured experimentally through 3D X-ray microscopy. This study was supported by the U.S. DOE Offi ce of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Materials Science & Engineering.