Topical Advisory Panel applications are now closed. Please contact the Editorial Office with any queries.

Modeling of Alloy Solidification

A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701). This special issue belongs to the section "Computation and Simulation on Metals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 12308

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
Interests: materials science; phase transformations in alloys, in particular solidification; experimental investigations and development of process innovations; numerical methods for predicting the evolution of microstructure during alloy solidification; the effects of natural convection on solidifying melts; microgravity experimentation; bulk metallic glasses and composites; processing of intermetallics and metal matrix composites; plastic deformation of alloys; metal forming; nanostructured materials; functionally gradient materials; additive manufacturing; materials for aerospace and energy applications; smart materials; biomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following over four decades of progress on the computational modelling of alloy solidification, it is timely to now assess the current state of the art—hence, this Special Issue of Metals will capture and record research outputs from relevant running or recently completed projects. Initial models were largely based on heat transfer, in which the enthalpy method was employed to take account of latent heat evolution. Today, we have sophisticated multi-scale and multi-physics models of alloy solidification that can simulate microstructural evolution—from nucleation of solid to impingement of grains, solute redistribution, intergranular and interdendritic flow, grain advection due to gravity and natural thermosolutal convection, columnar-to-equiaxed transition, eutectic and peritectic transformations, planar-to-cellular-to-dendritic transitions and beyond, rapid solidification and far-from-equilibrium effects, glass formation and crystallization in glass-forming alloys. Applications are in casting, welding and additive manufacturing processes. I would welcome a manuscript describing your research and new results on the modelling of alloy solidification for consideration in this specially themed issue.

Prof. Dr. David J. Browne
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • metal alloys
  • simulation
  • numerical methods
  • microstructural evolution
  • experimental validation
  • crystal growth
  • dendritic morphology
  • solute redistribution
  • remelting
  • casting, welding and additive manufacturing

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 9896 KiB  
Article
Development and Numerical Testing of a Model of Equiaxed Alloy Solidification Using a Phase Field Formulation
by Abdur Rahman Al Azad, Philip Cardiff and David J. Browne
Metals 2023, 13(12), 1916; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13121916 - 21 Nov 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1665
Abstract
A computational framework is developed to understand the transient behavior of isothermal and non-isothermal transformation between liquid and solid phases in a binary alloy using a phase-field method. The non-isothermal condition was achieved by applying a thermal gradient along the computational domain. The [...] Read more.
A computational framework is developed to understand the transient behavior of isothermal and non-isothermal transformation between liquid and solid phases in a binary alloy using a phase-field method. The non-isothermal condition was achieved by applying a thermal gradient along the computational domain. The bulk solid and liquid phases were treated as regular solutions, along with introducing an order parameter (phase field) as a function of space and time to describe the interfacial region between the two phases. An antitrapping flux term was integrated into the present phase-field model to mitigate the amount of solute trapping, which is characterized by the non-equilibrium partitioning of the solute. The governing equations for the phase field and the solute composition were solved by the cell-centered finite volume method using the open-source computational tool OpenFOAM. Simulations were carried out for the evolution of equiaxed dendrites inside an undercooled melt of a binary alloy, considering the effect of various computational parameters such as interface thickness, strength of crystal anisotropy, stochastic noise amplitude, and initial orientation. The simulated results show that the solidification morphology is sensitive to the magnitude of anisotropy as well as the amplitude of noise. A strong influence of interface thickness on the growth morphology and solute redistribution during solidification was observed. Incorporating antitrapping flux resulted in the solute partitioning close to the equilibrium value. Simulations show that the grain shape is unaffected by changes to crystallographic orientation with respect to the Cartesian computational grid. Thermal gradients exerted discernible effects on the solute distribution and the dendritic growth pattern. Starting with multiple nucleation events the model predicted realistic polycrystalline solidification and as-solidified microstructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling of Alloy Solidification)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2002 KiB  
Article
Modeling Segregation of Fe–C Alloy in Solidification by Phase-Field Method Coupled with Thermodynamics
by Tong-Zhao Gong, Yun Chen, Wei-Ye Hao, Xing-Qiu Chen and Dian-Zhong Li
Metals 2023, 13(6), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13061148 - 20 Jun 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1947
Abstract
The primary carbide in high carbon chromium bearing steels, which arises from solute segregation during non-equilibrium solidification, is one of the key factors affecting the mechanical properties and performance of the related components. In this work, the effects of carbide forming element diffusion, [...] Read more.
The primary carbide in high carbon chromium bearing steels, which arises from solute segregation during non-equilibrium solidification, is one of the key factors affecting the mechanical properties and performance of the related components. In this work, the effects of carbide forming element diffusion, primary austenite grain size, and the cooling rate on solute segregation and carbide precipitation during the solidification of an Fe–C binary alloy were studied by the phase-field method coupled with a thermodynamic database. It was clarified that increasing the ratio of solute diffusivity in solid and liquid, refining the grain size of primary austenite to lower than a critical value, and increasing the cooling rate can reduce the solute segregation and precipitation of primary carbide at late solidification. Two characteristic parameters were introduced to quantitatively evaluate the solute segregation during solidification including the phase fraction threshold of primary austenite when the solute concentration in liquid reaches the eutectic composition, and the maximum segregation ratio. Both parameters can be well-correlated to the ratio of solute diffusivity in solid and liquid, the grain size of primary austenite, and the cooling rate, which provides potential ways to control the solute segregation and precipitation of primary carbide in bearing steels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling of Alloy Solidification)
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3631 KiB  
Article
Departure of Nitrogen Bubbles at the Solid–Liquid Interface during the Solidification of Duplex Stainless Steels
by Qian Wang, Chenyang Xing, Rui Wang, Peng Luo, Bo Wang, Jieyu Zhang and Jie Ma
Metals 2022, 12(11), 1829; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12111829 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1571
Abstract
The departure of nitrogen bubbles from duplex stainless steel (DSS) is essential for studying the precipitation behavior of bubbles during solidification. In the current work, the numerical and theoretical derivation of analytical formula were used to study the bubble departure at the solid–liquid [...] Read more.
The departure of nitrogen bubbles from duplex stainless steel (DSS) is essential for studying the precipitation behavior of bubbles during solidification. In the current work, the numerical and theoretical derivation of analytical formula were used to study the bubble departure at the solid–liquid interface. In the paper, the departure radius of bubbles was deduced by numerical analysis. Based on the works of subcooled boiling flow, the forces of bubbles were analyzed at the solid–liquid interface. The critical condition of bubble departure was theoretically obtained. The effects of various factors on bubble departure and slip were also analyzed. The results showed that the critical radius of the bubble departure increased at the solid–liquid interface when reducing the interface inclination angle, the depth of liquid steel, the contact angle, the flow velocity of liquid steel, and the gas pressure on the surface of liquid steel. Moreover, when the interface inclination angle equaled zero, there was no slip in the interface direction before bubble departure, letting the bubbles float directly. However, when the interface inclination angle equaled π/4 or π/2, the bubbles slid along the interface before bubble departure in the x negative direction, which was more likely to cause the bubbles to be trapped. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling of Alloy Solidification)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2934 KiB  
Article
FE Modelling and Prediction of Macrosegregation Patterns in Large Size Steel Ingots: Influence of Filling Rate
by Chunping Zhang, Abdelhalim Loucif, Mohammad Jahazi and Jean-Benoit Morin
Metals 2022, 12(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/met12010029 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3222
Abstract
In the present work, the influence of filling rate on macrosegregation in a 40-Metric Ton (MT) ingot of a high-strength low-carbon steel was studied using finite element (FE) simulation. The modelling of the filling and solidification processes were realized with a two-phase (liquid-solid) [...] Read more.
In the present work, the influence of filling rate on macrosegregation in a 40-Metric Ton (MT) ingot of a high-strength low-carbon steel was studied using finite element (FE) simulation. The modelling of the filling and solidification processes were realized with a two-phase (liquid-solid) multiscale 3D model. The liquid flow induced by the pouring jet, the thermosolutal convection, and the thermomechanical deformation of the solid phase were taken into consideration. Two filling rates were examined, representing the upper and lower manufacturing limits for casting of large size ingots made of high strength steels for applications in energy and transportation industries. The evolution of solute transport, as well as its associated phenomena throughout the filling and cooling stages, were also investigated. It was found that increasing the filling rate reduced macrosegregation intensity in the upper section, along the centerline and in the mid-radius regions of the ingot. The results were analyzed in the framework of heat and mass transfer theories, liquid flow dynamics, and macrosegregation formation mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling of Alloy Solidification)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 4817 KiB  
Review
Review of Particle-Based Computational Methods and Their Application in the Computational Modelling of Welding, Casting and Additive Manufacturing
by Mingming Tong
Metals 2023, 13(8), 1392; https://doi.org/10.3390/met13081392 - 3 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
A variety of particle-based methods have been developed for the purpose of computationally modelling processes that involve, for example, complex topological changes of interfaces, significant plastic deformation of materials, fluid flow in conjunction with heat transfer and phase transformation, flow in porous media, [...] Read more.
A variety of particle-based methods have been developed for the purpose of computationally modelling processes that involve, for example, complex topological changes of interfaces, significant plastic deformation of materials, fluid flow in conjunction with heat transfer and phase transformation, flow in porous media, granular flow, etc. Being different from the conventional methods that directly solve related governing equations using a computational grid, the particle-based methods firstly discretize the continuous medium into discrete pseudo-particles in mathematics. The methods then mathematically solve the governing equations by considering the local interaction between neighbouring pseudo-particles. Such solutions can reflect the overall flow, deformation, heat transfer and phase transformation processes of the target materials at the mesoscale and macroscale. This paper reviews the fundamental concepts of four different particle-based methods (lattice Boltzmann method—LBM, smoothed particle hydrodynamics—SPH, discrete element method—DEM and particle finite element method—PFEM) and their application in computational modelling research on welding, casting and additive manufacturing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling of Alloy Solidification)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop