Modeling dislocation absorption by surfaces within the framework of strain gradient crystal plasticity

Surfaces play important roles in plastic deformation of crystals at submicron scale by emitting/absorbing dislocations and hence may contribute to the complicated size effect. To take into account the dislocation absorption on the continuum level, an energetic surface model has been proposed by considering the change of surface energy contributed by the formation of surface steps via dislocation absorption. In combination with the conventional higher-order strain gradient theory for grain interior, a new model for single crystal plasticity has been developed. Within the model, there exists a critical threshold for the onset of dislocation absorption by surfaces, alternatively, an independent yield criterion for surfaces and the microscopic boundary conditions can be obtained naturally. As an example of application, plastic behavior of a thin film under plane constrained shear has been studied. Results demonstrate that surface yield strength strongly depends on the film thickness and the orientation of the activated slip system. Comparison with the strain gradient plasticity models under the conventional microscopic boundary conditions, i.e., the microhard and microfree conditions has also been made. It has been found that the plastic behavior is sensitive to the surface boundary conditions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.