Numerical modeling of solute-drag creep

Solute-drag creep controls deformation at elevated temperatures and relatively slow strain rates in a variety of technologically important materials. Solute-drag creep gives rise to two beneficial behaviors which are taken advantage of in engineering alloys. First, solute-drag creep increases creep strength by making dislocation glide more difficult than dislocation climb. Second, solute-drag creep increases tensile ductility by increasing the strain-rate sensitivity to a value near 1/3. The original model of Weertman for solute-drag creep is one of the most successful of creep theories. Recent work has aimed at extending this basic framework to better predict the behavior of complex engineering alloys. The results of modeling efforts for ternary alloys are discussed. Model predictions are compared to experimental data.