A general sharp-interface simulation framework for microstructure evolution
Abstract
Simulating microstructure evolution requires tracking many moving grain and phase boundaries coupled to thermodynamic and mechanical fields. We present Gaussian-projected kinetics (GPK), a sharp-interface framework in which every cell stores an integer grain or phase label. Near a boundary, a temporary Gaussian projection of the label map provides the interface normal and curvature and is then discarded. Capillarity, chemistry, stored energy, transport and elasticity move the boundaries through one topology-preserving update. Because the Gaussian measurement length is fixed in physical units, mesh refinement keeps a consistent capillary scale without a diffuse interface. GPK models grain growth, recrystallisation, multiphase evolution and elastic-coupled solidification in two and three dimensions. It is verified on analytical benchmarks and compared grain by grain with phase-field simulations, running 8.5 to 96 times faster at matched accuracy in our tests. An Al-Cu application with CALPHAD thermodynamic data connects it to measured recrystallisation and precipitation data.
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BibTeX
@misc{linda2026general,
title = {{A general sharp-interface simulation framework for microstructure evolution}},
author = {Albert Linda and Dierk Raabe},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2611.04582},
eprint = {2611.04582},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.04582},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - A general sharp-interface simulation framework for microstructure evolution
AU - Albert Linda
AU - Dierk Raabe
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2611.04582
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2611.04582
AB - Simulating microstructure evolution requires tracking many moving grain and phase boundaries coupled to thermodynamic and mechanical fields. We present Gaussian-projected kinetics (GPK), a sharp-interface framework in which every cell stores an integer grain or phase label. Near a boundary, a temporary Gaussian projection of the label map provides the interface normal and curvature and is then discarded. Capillarity, chemistry, stored energy, transport and elasticity move the boundaries through one topology-preserving update. Because the Gaussian measurement length is fixed in physical units, mesh refinement keeps a consistent capillary scale without a diffuse interface. GPK models grain growth, recrystallisation, multiphase evolution and elastic-coupled solidification in two and three dimensions. It is verified on analytical benchmarks and compared grain by grain with phase-field simulations, running 8.5 to 96 times faster at matched accuracy in our tests. An Al-Cu application with CALPHAD thermodynamic data connects it to measured recrystallisation and precipitation data.
ER -