Molecular dynamics simulation of microcrack healing in copper

The molecular dynamics method is used to simulate microcrack healing during heating or/and under compressive stress. A center microcrack in Cu crystal could be sealed under a compressive stress or by heating. The role of compressive stress and heating in crack healing was additive. During microcrack healing, dislocation generation and motion occurred. If there were pre-existed dislocations around the microcrack, the critical temperature or compressive stress necessary for microcrack healing would decrease, and the higher the number of dislocations, the lower the critical temperature or compressive stress. The critical temperature necessary for microcrack healing depended upon the orientation of crack plane. For example, the critical temperature of the crack along (0 0 1) plane was the lowest, i.e., 770 K.