Understanding the intricate structure of dislocations in metals is a major issue in materials science. In this paper we present a comprehensive approach for the characterisation of dislocation networks, resulting in accurate quantification and significantly increasing the insight into the dislocation structure. Dislocation networks in metals consists of dislocation segments, pinned by microstructural obstacles. In the present paper a model is introduced that describes the behaviour of these dislocation segments in the pre-yield range of a tensile test on the basis of fundamental concepts of dislocation theory. The model enables experimental quantification of the dislocation density and segment length from the tensile curve. Quantitative results are shown and discussed on the development of the dislocation network as a function of increasing degree of plastic deformation, including validation and physical interpretation of the classical Taylor equation.

The pre-yield deformation behaviour (i.e., at stresses below the yield stress) of two materials, pure iron and a low-alloy steel, and its anelastic nature are analysed at room temperature, before and after the dislocation structures are varied by plastic deformation. It is shown, based on tensile experiments, that this behaviour can be explained by limited reversible glide of dislocations without essential changes in the dislocation structure. Moreover, a physically-based model that characterises the dislocation structure by two variables, the dislocation density and the effective dislocation segment length, is used to quantitatively describe this deformation behaviour. The model validity is further evaluated by comparison with dislocation densities from X-Ray Diffraction measurements.