Computer simulation of grain growth and macrostructure development during solidification

Abstract
A Monte Carlo computer simulation technique, previously applied to the simulation of a number of solid state processes involving microstructural evolution, has been employed to simulate and represent pictorially grain growth and grain interactions during solidification. By careful control of the number, location, and time of origin of grain nuclei it has been possible to simulate a wide range of features of grain structure in castings. Also, in support of an existing statistical argument, it has been demonstrated that the columnar to equiaxed transition occurs when the volume fraction of equiaxed grains ahead of the columnar interface is 0·50. MST/912