Large-scale simulations and parameter study for a simple recrystallization model

Abstract

Distance function-based diffusion-generated motion, a highly efficient numerical algorithm, is used to simulate a classical model of recrystallization in unprecedented detail and in physically relevant parameter regimes not attainable with many previous techniques. The algorithm represents interfaces implicitly and is closely related to the level set method. In particular, it allows for automatic topological changes and arbitrarily large time-steps. Large-scale simulations of recrystallization for physically relevant parameter values are presented in detail. In addition, new analytical estimates for the distribution of surviving nuclei are obtained and compared with the numerical results.

Keywords:

• diffusion-generated motion
• mean curvature flow
• recrystallization
• grain boundary interfaces
• simulation
• surface tension

Acknowledgements

This work was supported, in part, by grants from the National Science Foundation: DMS-0748333 and DMS-0810113 and DMS-1026317. Selim Esedo[gbar]lu was also supported by an Alfred P. Sloan Foundation fellowship.