Defect Interactions at Grain Boundaries and Surfaces

Grain boundaries and free surfaces play a critical role in defect behavior, particularly at the micro- and nano-scale where interface effects are pronounced. This Special Topic highlights recent advances in understanding how dislocations and other defects interact with interfaces and surfaces to influence plasticity and damage evolution. We invite experimental, computational, and theoretical contributions that explore interface-driven defect dynamics under extreme conditions, such as confined volumes, high strain rates, and irradiation, across metals, ceramics, and nanostructured materials.