Quantitative cellular automaton model and simulations of dendritic and anomalous eutectic growth

A quantitative cellular automaton (CA) model for dendritic and anomalous eutectic growth has been developed. Solid/liquid(SL) interface curvature plays an important role on the dendritic and eutectic growth kinetics. In order to improve the accuracy of calculated interface curvature, a height function method was used in this research. Simulation results showed that the precision of the interface curvature has been significantly improved. And the quantitative ability of present CA model has also been improved through the simulations of equilibrium shapes. Using the quantitative CA model, directional solidification of dendritic and eutectic growth has been investigated, as well as the anomalous eutectic growth during laser remelting process. For anomalous eutectic, it is found that the very fine lamellar eutectic growing at much smaller cooling rate is the reason to observe the lamellar to anomalous transition.