Three-dimensional Monte-Carlo simulation of grain growth using triangular lattice

Abstract

A computer code was developed to simulate the three-dimensional grain growth using the Monte-Carlo method. Three parameters were studied in depth: the stacking mode, the number of the nearest neighbor lattice sites to be included in the calculation of the system energy and the number of grains in the initial microstructure. An ABC type packing of two-dimensional triangular lattice was found to produce an ideal equiaxed initial microstructure. Normal grain growth could be induced by employing a sufficient number of grains in the initial microstructure and by including a sufficient number of the nearest lattice sites in the energy calculation. The grain growth behavior of a textured microstructure was simulated and the result accorded well with the experimental result in that the development of a texture accompanied the formation of low-angle boundaries so that the overall grain growth was retarded.