A three-dimensional frontal cellular automaton model for simulation of microstructure evolution-initial microstructure module

This paper presents a three-dimensional frontal cellular automaton (FCA)-based model for modelling of microstructure evolution during technological processes. It is a hierarchical system. The first level is the FCAs, the second level contains modules of microstructural phenomena and the third level is presented by the models of technological processes. The module of the initial microstructure (IM) is one of the components of the second level. The IM allows one to obtain a digital material representation of given parameters, which can be used by other modules for further simulation. The parameters that must be assured by the IM module are the following: shape of the grains and distributions of the grain size, crystallographic orientation and boundary disorientation angles. To obtain the required parameters, the FCAs are first used as a tool for the creation of the basic microstructure characterized by the shape of the grains. The grain size distribution is obtained by the method, which changes nucleation and grain growth conditions. After the creation of the microstructure, crystallographic parameters are established. Distribution of the crystallographic orientation and boundary disorientation angles can be obtained independently or as associated parameters. Some examples of microstructures obtained by the IM module are presented in this paper.