Simulation of slip plane transition from {110} to {112} of body-centered-cubic metals

Suzudo, Tomoaki   ; Fukumoto, Kenichi*

Body-centered cubic (BCC) metals are applied as structural materials to many components of nuclear reactors, and their thermal and mechanical integrity are of great importance. Much of the deformation of BCC metals at low temperatures is due to the movement of screw dislocations. The motion of screw dislocations in BCC metals is known to be complex. In this research, we succeeded in reproducing the transition of the slip plane as the temperature rise observed in the experiment for the first time using the latest molecular dynamics modeling method. Next, we devised an algorithm to analyze dislocation jumps over the Peierls barrier with high resolution, and showed that the cause of this slip-plane transition phenomenon is likely thermal fluctuation of lattice.