Initial dislocation density effect on strain hardening in FCC aluminium alloy under laser shock peening

Abstract

The effect of initial dislocation density on subsequent dislocation evolution and strain hardening in FCC aluminium alloy under laser shock peening (LSP) was investigated by using three-dimension discrete dislocation dynamics (DD) simulation. Initial dislocations were randomly generated and distributed on slip planes for three different dislocation densities of 4.21 × 1012, 8.12 × 1012 and 1.26 × 1013 m−2. Besides, variable densities of prismatic loops were introduced into the DD cells as nanoprecipitates to study the dislocation pinning effect. The flow stresses as a function of strain rate obtained by DD simulation are compared with relevant experimental data. The results show a significant dislocation density accumulation in the form of dislocation band-like structures under LSP. The overall yield strength in FCC aluminium alloy decreases with increasing initial dislocation density and forest dislocation strengthening becomes negligible under laser induced ultra-high strain rate deformation. In addition, yield strength is enhanced by increasing the nanoprecipitate density due to dislocation pinning effect.