BSTRACTWe propose a dislocation adsorption-based mechanism for void growth in metals

wherein a void grows as dislocations from the bulk annihilate at its surface. The basic process is governed by glide and cross-slip of dislocations at the surface of a void. Using molecular dynamics simulations we show that when dislocations are present around a void

growth occurs more quickly and at much lower stresses than when the crystal is initially dislocation-free. Finally

we show that adsorption-mediated growth predicts an exponential dependence on the hydrostatic stress

consistent with the well-known Rice-Tracey equation.