Continuum Dislocation Dynamics

The focus of this research area are defects in crystal lattices. These defects in the atomic arrangement are important for the description of materials with crystalline structure (e.g. metals), since they are the main contributors to inelastic deformation of the material.

A special role is played by line-like defects, called dislocations. The dislocation density is measured in line length per volume. At large deformations, the dislocation density can take values up to 10¹² cm/cm³. This huge number leads to the assumption that statistial methods from continuum mechanics can be used to develop an averaged description of dislocation systems.

The goal of our research is the enhancement and improvement of continuum mechanical models used for the description of dislocation networks. In this way a better insight into the process of inelastic deformation shall be achieved.