Simulation of Grain Growth in Aluminum Alloys under Selective Laser Melting

A computer model for simulating the processes of crystallization of multicomponent aluminum-base alloys under laser treatment is developed. Crystallization of an alloy is simulated at various parameters, i.e., sizes of the construction zone, number of acts of nucleation and growth of grains, and maximum total number of acts in the system. The model exhibits good reproducibility of results and makes it possible to determine such structural parameters as the mean grain size, the form factor, and the proportion of recrystallized volume in the crystallization process. The model may be used for designing recrystallization under the conditions of presence of an epitaxial layer (substrate), which permits estimation of the effect of crystallization parameters on formation of a zone of columnar crystals in the structure and optimization of these parameters.