Multi-phase-field lattice Boltzmann model for polycrystalline equiaxed solidification with motion

Abstract

The formation process of equiaxed structures during alloy solidification is a complicated multiphysics problem as it includes solid–liquid phase transformations, transport of solute and heat, liquid flow, solid motion, solid–solid interactions, and grain growth after solidification completion. In this study, a multi-phase-field (MPF) model with the double-obstacle (DO) potential is introduced to our previous model [T. Takaki et al., Comput. Mater. Sci., 147 (2018) 124–131] to express the formation process of equiaxed structures accurately and efficiently, from the growth of multiple mobile dendrites to the grain growth with grain boundary anisotropy after solidification. The accuracy of the resulting MPF-lattice Boltzmann (MPF-LB) model with the DO potential is evaluated by comparison with the results obtained using a model with the double-well potential through simulations of purely diffusive dendrite growth, the growth of an immobile dendrite with forced convection, and the growth of a mobile dendrite under shear flow. Finally, the model is applied to both large-scale polycrystalline solidification and semi-solid deformation processes.