The thermodynamic dislocation theory (TDT) is based on two fundamental but unconventional assumptions: first, that the dislocations in a persistently deforming crystalline solid must obey the second law of thermodynamics and thus be described by an effective temperature; and second, that the controlling time scale for deformation of these systems is the inverse of the thermally activated rate at which entangled dislocation lines become unpinned from each other. By use of these first-principles concepts and comparisons with experimental data, I show that this theory achieves new, usefully predictive understandings of strain hardening, yield stresses, shear banding, and brittle and ductile fracture. I argue that it opens new directions for research.

热力学位错理论 (TDT) 基于两个基本但非常规的假设：首先，持续变形的结晶固体中的位错必须遵守热力学第二定律，因此可以用有效温度来描述；其次，这些系统变形的控制时间尺度是热激活速率的倒数，在该速率下，纠缠的位错线彼此解开。通过使用这些第一性原理概念并与实验数据进行比较，我表明该理论实现了对应变硬化、屈服应力、剪切带以及脆性和韧性断裂的新的、有用的预测性理解。我认为它为研究开辟了新的方向。