Phase-field lattice-Boltzmann study on fully coupled thermal-solute-convection dendrite growth of Al-Cu alloy

Dendrite growth is a complex liquid-solid phase transition process involving multiple physical factors.A phase-field lattice-Boltzmann method was developed to simulate the two-and three-dimension dendrite growth of Al-Cu alloy.The effect of fully coupled thermal-solute-convection interaction on the dendrite growth was investigated by incorporating a parallel-adaptive mesh refinement algorithm into the numerical model.By accurately reproducing the latent heat release,solute diffusion and convective transport behaviors at the liquidsolid interface,the interaction mechanism among thermal-solute-convection transport as well as their coupling effects on the dendrite growth dynamics were discussed.The simulation results show that the release of latent heat slows down the dendrite growth rate,and both natural and forced convection disrupt the symmetrical growth of dendrites.Their combination makes the growth of dendrites more complex,capturing important physical aspects such as recalescence,dendrite tip splitting,dendrite tilting,dendrite remelting,and solute plume in the simulation case.Based on the robustness and powerful ability of the numerical model,the formation mechanisms of these physical aspects were revealed.

Effect of Mn addition on microstructure and mechanical properties of GX40CrNiSi25-12 austenitic heat resistant steel

Three types of steels were designed on the basis of GX40CrNiSi25-12 austenitic heat resistant steel by adding different Mn contents(2wt.%,6wt.%,and 12wt.%).Thermodynamic calculation,microstructure characterization and mechanical property tests were conducted to investigate the effect of Mn addition on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the austenitic heat resistant steel.Results show that the matrix structure in all the three types of steels at room temperature is completely austenite.Carbides NbC and M_(23)C_(6)precipitate at grain boundaries of austenite matrix.With the increase of Mn content,the number of carbides increases and their distribution becomes more uniform.With the Mn content increases from 1.99%to 12.06%,the ultimate tensile strength,yield strength and elongation increase by 14.6%,8.0%and 46.3%,respectively.The improvement of the mechanical properties of austenitic steels can be explained by utilizing classic theories of alloy strengthening,including solid solution strengthening,precipitation strengthening,and grain refinement.The increase in alloy strength can be attributed to solid solution strengthening and precipitation strengthening caused by the addition of Mn.The improvement of the plasticity of austenitic steels can be explained from two aspects:grain refinement and homogenization of precipitated phases.

重力驱动的自然对流下hcp金属枝晶生长的相场-格子玻尔兹曼方法研究

开发了一种耦合并行-自适应网格划分算法的相场-格子玻尔兹曼方法来模拟hcp金属的等轴和柱状枝晶生长,重点讨论了重力驱动的自然对流以及自然对流与强制对流耦合对枝晶生长的影响。模拟结果表明,二维情况下的hcp金属枝晶在重力驱动的自然对流下呈现非对称生长,同时揭示了溶质偏析和溶质羽流的演化过程。研究得出,溶质羽流的形成是由枝晶的溶质阻塞和熔体流动时溶质传输之间的竞争决定的。引入适当的强制对流可以消除溶质羽流的形成并抑制枝晶尖端溶质浓度的局部波动。研究还发现,重力驱动的自然对流丰富了hcp金属3D枝晶形貌的多样性。

真空压铸镁合金AE44缺陷带的组织特征及形成机理

研究真空压铸镁合金AE44的显微组织,重点关注缺陷带的组织特征及形成机理。实验中普遍观察到的双缺陷带将压铸试样横截面划分为5个部分,各部分的晶粒形态与尺寸分布存在较大差异。心部缺陷带显著宽于表层缺陷带。双缺陷带均为溶质偏析带,Al;RE;相面积分数均高于周围区域。压铸镁合金AE44缺陷带内未观察到明显的孔洞聚集现象,这是由镁合金AE44较窄的凝固温度区间以及金属间化合物相析出过程中释放出大量的潜热造成的。缺陷带的形成与作用于半固态合金的剪切应力有关,剪切应力会导致半固态区域晶粒骨架崩塌。然而,表层及心部缺陷带处的剪切应力形成机制大不相同。

Effects of process parameters on morphology and distribution of externally solidified crystals in microstructure of magnesium alloy die castings

During the cold-chamber high pressure die casting(HPDC) process, samples were produced to investigate the microstructure characteristics of AM60B magnesium alloy. Special attention was paid to the effects of process parameters on the morphology and distribution of externally solidified crystals(ESCs) in the microstructure of magnesium alloy die castings, such as slow shot phase plunger velocity, delay time of pouring and fast shot phase plunger velocity. On the basis of metallographic observation and quantitative statistics, it is concluded that a lower slow shot phase plunger velocity and a longer delay time of pouring both lead to an increment of the size and percentage of the ESCs, due to the fact that a longer holding time of the melt in the shot sleeve will cause a more severe loss of the superheat. The impingement of the melt flow on the ESCs is more intensive with a higher fast shot phase plunger velocity, in such case the ESCs reveal a more granular and roundish morphology and are dispersed throughout the cross section of the castings. Based on analysis of the filling and solidification processes of the melt during the HPDC process, reasonable explanations were proposed in terms of the nucleation, growth, remelting and fragmentation of the ESCs to interpret the effects of process parameters on the morphology and distribution of the ESCs in the microstructure of magnesium alloy die castings.

Modeling studies on divorced eutectic formation of high pressure die cast magnesium alloy

The morphology and content of the divorced eutectic in the microstructure of high pressure die casting(HPDC) magnesium alloy have a great influence on the final performance of castings. Based on the previous work concerning simulation of the nucleation and dendritic growth of primary α-Mg during the solidification of magnesium alloy under HPDC process, an extension was made to the formerly established CA(Cellular Automaton) model with the purpose of modeling the nucleation and growth of Mg-Al eutectic. With a temperature field and solute field obtained during simulation of the primary α-Mg dendrites as the initial condition of the modified CA model, modeling of the Mg-Al eutectic with a divorced morphology was achieved. Moreover, the simulated results were in accordance with the experimental ones regarding the distribution and content of the divorced eutectic. Taking a "cover-plate" die casting with AM60 magnesium alloy as an example, the rapid solidification with a high cooling rate at the surface layer of the casting led to a fine and uniform grain size of primary α-Mg, while the divorced eutectic at the grain boundary revealed a more dispersed and granular morphology. Islands of divorced eutectic were observed at the central region of the casting, due to the existence of ESCs(Externally Solidified Crystals) which contributed to a coarse and non-uniform grain size of primary α-Mg. The volume percentage of the eutectic β-Mg_(17)Al_(12) phase is about 2%-6% in the die casting as a whole. The numerical model established in this study is of great significance to the study of the divorced eutectic in the microstructure of die cast magnesium alloy.

Phase-field modeling of dendritic growth of magnesium alloys with a parallel-adaptive mesh refinement algorithm

A two-dimensional phase field(PF)model was developed to simulate the dendritic solidification in magnesium alloy with hcp crystal structure.By applying a parallel-adaptive mesh refinement(Para-AMR)algorithm,the computational efficiency of the numerical model was greatly improved.Based on the PF model,a series of simulation cases were conducted and the results showed that the anisotropy coefficient and coupling coefficient had a great influence on the dendritic morphology of magnesium alloy.The dendritic growth kinetics was determined by the undercooling and equilibrium solute partition coefficient.A significant finding is acquired that with a large undercooling,the maximum solute concentration is located on both sides of the dendrite tip in the liquid,whereas the maximum solute concentration gradient is located right ahead of the dendrite tip in the liquid.The dendrite tip growth velocity decreases with the increase of the equilibrium solute partition coefficient,while the variation trend of the dendrite tip radius is the opposite.Quantitative analysis was carried out relating to the dendritic morphology and growth kinetics,and the simulated results are consistent with the theoretical models proposed in the previously published works.

Defect band formation in high pressure die casting AE44 magnesium alloy

The characteristics of defect bands in the microstructure of high pressure die casting(HPDC)AE44 magnesium alloy were investigated.Special attention was paid to the effects of process parameters during the HPDC process and casting structure on the distribution of defect bands.Results show that the defect bands are solute segregation bands with the enrichment of Al,Ce and La elements,which are basically in the form of Al_(11)RE_(3) phase.There is no obvious aggregation of porosities in the defect bands.The width of the inner defect band is 4-8 times larger than that of the outer one.The variation trends of the distribution of the inner and outer defect bands are not consistent under different process parameters and at different locations of castings.This is due to the discrepancy between the formation mechanisms of double defect bands.The filling and solidification behavior of the melt near the chilling layer is very complicated,which finally leads to a fluctuation of the width and location of the outer defect band.By affecting the content and aggregation degree of externally solidified crystals(ESCs)in the cross section of die castings,the process parameters and casting structure have a great influence on the distribution of the inner defect band.

Numerical simulation on dendritic growth of Al-Cu alloy under convection based on the cellular automaton lattice Boltzmann method

A numerical model is developed by coupling the cellular automaton(CA)method and the lattice Boltzmann method(LBM)to simulate the dendritic growth of Al-Cu alloy in both two and three dimensions.An improved decentered square algorithm is proposed to overcome the artificial anisotropy induced by the CA cells and to realize simulation of dendritic growth with arbitrary orientations.Based on the established CA-LBM model,effects of forced convection and gravity-driven natural convection on dendritic growth are studied.The simulation results show that the blocking effect of dendrites on melt flow is advanced with a larger number of seeds.The competitive growth of the converging columnar dendrites is determined by the interaction between heat flow and forced convection.Gravity-driven natural convection leads to highly asymmetric growth of equiaxed dendrites.With sinking downwards of the heavy solute,chimney-like or mushroom-like solute plumes are formed in the melt in front of the columnar dendrites when they grow along the gravitational direction.More details on dendritic growth of Al-Cu alloy under convection are revealed by 3D simulations.

Simulation of dendritic growth of magnesium al oys with fluid flow

Fluid flow has a significant impact on the microstructure evolution of alloys during solidification. Based on the previous work relating simulation of the dendritic growth of magnesium alloys with hcp(hexagonal closepacked) structure, an extension was made to the formerly established CA(cellular automaton) model with the purpose of studying the effect of fluid flow on the dendritic growth of magnesium alloys. The modified projection method was used to solve the transport equations of flow field. By coupling the flow field with the solute field, simulation results of equiaxed and columnar dendritic growth of magnesium alloys with fluid flow were achieved. The simulated results were quantitatively compared with those without fluid flow. Moreover, a comparison was also made between the present work and previous works conducted by others. It can be concluded that a deep understanding of the dendritic growth of magnesium alloys with fluid flow can be obtained by applying the present numerical model.