Asymmetric dislocation junctions exhibit a broad range of strengths

The strength of dislocation junctions with segments of unequal length is studied. Such structures are common, while the equivalent symmetric junctions are exceptions. It is shown that varying the length of junction “arms” leads to significant variation of the junction strength and to changes of the failure mechanism. The relative strength of Lomer and glissile junctions may be reversed as the junctions become asymmetric. This increases the variability of the strength of pinning sites a mobile dislocation encounters during glide.