Abstract: Work-hardening behaviour of type 316 austenitic stainless steel having difFerent initial dislocation structures introduced by swaging to various levels is analysed by a simplified Kock's model which takes into account the structural changes through the dislocation accumulation and annihilation process during deformation. The dislocation accumulation and annihilation factors show a temperature and structure dependence. The dislocation annihilation factor shows a plateau or decreasing tendency in the dynamic strain ageing (DSA) temperature range. This is attributed as either due to dislocation accumulation being more pronounced than dislocation annihilation or as due to precipitates being formed at DSA temperatures acting as obstacles to dislocation motion in the DSA temperature range.