Methods of segregation analysis applied to simulated multicomponent multiphase microstructures

• Published in: International journal of materials research Vol. 105; no. 2; pp. 130 - 138
• Main Authors: Grätz, Kathrin, Eiken, Janin, Schmid-Fetzer, Rainer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Munich De Gruyter 01.02.2014; Hanser
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Arrays; AZ31; Computer simulation; Exact sciences and technology; Magnesium base alloys; Mathematical models; Metals. Metallurgy; Microstructure; Microstructure simulation; Phase-field; Segregation analysis; Segregations; Solidification; Sorting methods; Three dimensional; Transforms; Segregation analysis; Magnesium base alloys; Sorting methods; Simulation; Segregation; AZ31; Phase-field; Microstructure simulation; Microstructure
• ISSN: 1862-5282; 2195-8556
• DOI: 10.3139/146.111008

Advanced microstructure simulation models can predict solute segregation in 2D and 3D space, which often leads to outputs of large arrays of concentration values with a multitude of detailed information that hinders straightforward evaluations. The target of this study is to establish a common evaluation method for both simulation results and experimental data as a standard for quantitative comparison and validation. For this purpose, a methodology is adopted from experimental segregation analysis to transform the multi-dimensional data into meaningful 1D segregation profiles, which can easily be plotted and discussed. As an application example, a directional solidification experiment on an AZ31 magnesium alloy is selected and the solidification process is simulated using the phase-field method. The subsequently obtained 1D segregation profiles are compared to measured segregation profiles. As part of the study, two common sorting methods are evaluated with respect to their applicability to recover the general segregation behavior and the solidification path, as well as to handle numerical noise.