Plastic deformation of a composite and the source-shortening effect simulated by a continuum dislocation-based model

A two-dimensional implementation of a continuum dislocation-based model is presented. This model describes the evolution of dislocation fields during plastic deformation. Since it accounts for the self-force of the curved dislocations carrying the plastic deformation, it is length-scale dependent. The model is embedded in a standard plane strain continuum crystal plasticity framework which is numerically implemented by the finite element method. As a test problem, the simple shearing of a constrained crystalline strip is considered. Then, the response of a representative cell of a two-dimensional composite structure to shear load is simulated. It is shown that the model is able to reproduce the source-shortening effect that is observed in deformed composite materials.