Numerical simulation of solidification .1. Microsegregation in binary alloys

Numerical methods for the simulation of solidification developed during the past three decades are summarized. The first part of this overview deals with models for binary metallic alloys predicting the type and amount of solidifying phases and the concentration distribution in these phases. Cellular as well as columnar and equiaxed dendritic structures are considered. Possible factors of influence (e,g. solid state diffusion, coarsening of the dendrite arms, undercooling effects) are described. The published approaches are critically discussed and open questions are defined. The inclusion of all effects which affect microsegregation has been successfully, carried out only in a few cases. These complete models are able to make very accurate predictions of microsegregation and concentration distributions.