Abstract The interaction between a screw dislocation in the nanoscale coating layer (interphase layer) with interface stresses and the circular inhomogeneity and matrix is investigated. The analytical solutions of complex potential functions in the inhomogeneity, the coating layer and the infinite matrix are derived by means of the complex variable method. With the aid of the Peach-Koehler formula, the explicit expression of the image force acting on the screw dislocation is given. The influence of the interface stresses on the image force and the equilibrium position of the dislocation in the coating layer (interphase layer) is mainly discussed. The results show that the impact of the interface stresses on the motion of the dislocation near the interfaces is very significant. Under certain conditions, the presence of the interface stress can change the interaction mechanism between the screw dislocation and inhomogeneity/matrix, and three equilibrium positions can exist for the dislocation in the coating layer. It can be seen that an additional repulsive force or attractive force will act on the dislocation for considering the interface effect, which cause the image force to increase or decrease.
2010, Vol. 31 
