Grain growth competition during melt pool solidification — Comparing phase-field and cellular automaton models

A broad range of computational models have been proposed to predict microstructure development during solidification processing but they seldom compared each other on a quantitative and systematic basis. In this paper, we compare phase-field (PF) cellular automaton (CA) simulations polycrystalline growth in two-dimensional melt pool under conditions relevant additive manufacturing (powder-bed fusion). We the resulting grain structures using local (point-by-point) measurements, as well averaged orientation distributions over several simulations. explore effect CA spatial discretization level that aspect ratio upon selected texture. Our show detailed microscopic features related transient solid–liquid interface stability (e.g. initial planar stage prior its cellular/dendritic destabilization, or early elimination unfavorably oriented grains due neighbor sidebranching) can only be captured by PF The disagreement between predictions addressed partially refinement grid. However, overall entire pools seem lead notably better agreement CA, with some variability shape While further research remains required, particular identify appropriate selection link characteristic microstructural length scales, provides useful step forward direction comparing both methods quantitatively at process-relevant time scales.