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Solid solution hardening was investigated by simulating the motion of a flexible dislocation in thermal equilibrium while overcoming obstacles by thermal activation. In a first approach, the waiting times before activation were analysed at several temperatures, external stresses and segment lengths. From statistical studies of such activation event, the effective attack frequency, Gibb's free enthalpy of activation and the activation volume were derived in strict analogy to the analysis of experimental data. As a second approach the average velocity of a dislocation gliding over an infinite row of equidistant obstacles was calculated by simulation. The temperature dependence of this speed significantly differs from that of the waiting times, indicating that kinetic effects must not be neglected even at high at high temperatures where dislocation motion is said to be 'overdamped'.