Hybrid Cellular Automaton - Parabolic Thick Needle model for equiaxed dendritic solidification

A hybrid Cellular Automaton (CA) - Parabolic Thick Needle (PTN) model is developed for the simulation of an equiaxed dendritic grain. It implemented by solving conservation equations with Finite Element (FE) method at two scales. At scale microstructure, branches are approximated a network PTN. The solute field computed in liquid using FE mesh minimum size smaller than diffusion length ahead dendrite tips, giving access to detailed description each tip growth velocity as well solutal interactions between branches. domain scale, volume averaged heat and transfers solved on coarser mesh. average volumetric fraction phases deduced from microstructure together microsegregation model. Because PTN themselves grow CA cells, transferred vertices polygon associated shape. Similarly, cells part mushy zone, which include containing network. Advantages new multiple CAPTN interaction long range transfer mass, role latent release solidification.