Modelling grain growth with the generalized Kampmann-Wagner numerical model

Abstract

The multi-phase Kampmann-Wagner Numerical (KWN) model, which had been successfully applied for modeling particle precipitation (i.e. Ostwald ripening), is extended toward grain growth modeling. The extensions consist of adopting grain topology- and size-dependent growth rate equation obtained from either the reported parameterization of phase field simulations results or theoretical analysis. Global volume conservation equation is imposed in the extended model to reflect the spacing filling constraints that grains do not overlap and no voids appear. The extended model has been applied to simulate ideal grain growth, grain growth with the initial states of lognormal/normal/Weibull distributions, bi-modal grain size distribution and arbitrary Voronoi tessellations, and the simulation results have been verified by Hillert's asymptotic solution and phase field simulation results. The extension has enabled the KWN approach applicable to model grain growth thus reducing the threshold for the establishment of an efficient Integrated Computational Materials Engineering modeling framework.