Cellular Automata Simulation for Grain Growth Based on Anisotropic Grain Boundary Mobility and Grain Boundary Energy

Based on the theoretical model of grain growth, combined with the curvature mechanism and probabilistic transition rules, a 2D cellular automata (CA) model was built under the conditions of anisotropic grain boundary mobility and grain boundary energy. This CA model was used to simulate the grain growth under isothermal condition, the microstructure evolution and kinetics characteristics as well as the grain size and edge number distributions were analyzed, and the effects of grain boundary mobility anisotropy and grain boundary energy anisotropy on grain growth were studied. The results show that the microstructure evolution was in accordance with the normal grain growth law, the relative distributions of grain size deviated from normal distribution and the grain edge number distribution was not time-dependent, the equilibrium angle of triple junctions grain boundary with small angle misorientations was 120°. Comparing with the isotropy, the anisotropic grain boundary mobility and grain boundary energy obviously decreased the grain growth rate, but the grain boundary mobility anisotropy alone did not significantly change the grain growth. The effect of grain boundary energy anisotropy on grain growth was greater than that of grain boundary mobility anisotropy. The simulation results corresponded with the theory of grain growth kinetics and the conclusion from relevant literature.