Dislocation gliding in a freestanding film submitted to uniaxial stress

The equilibrium positions of an edge dislocation embedded in a freestanding thin film submitted to uniaxial stress have been characterized from a Peach-Koehler force calculation. Depending on the inclination angle of the dislocation gliding plane with respect to the film horizontal axis, one stable and two unstable equilibrium positions have been first identified for the dislocation, when the film is stress-free. A critical angle has been also determined beyond which only one unstable equilibrium position remains. The effects of compressive and tensile applied stress have been then analyzed on the dislocation stability in the film and the stress values beyond which no longer the dislocation has a stable equilibrium have been finally determined.

Automated summary

The equilibrium positions of an edge dislocation in a freestanding thin film under uniaxial stress were investigated using Peach-Koehler force calculation. It was found that depending on the inclination angle of the dislocation gliding plane, one stable and two unstable equilibrium positions exist when the film is stress-free. A critical angle was identified where only one unstable equilibrium position remains. The effects of compressive and tensile stress on the dislocation stability in the film were analyzed, and the critical stress values were determined where the dislocation no longer has a stable equilibrium.