Statistics of Microstructure Formation in Martensitic Transitions Studied by a Random-Field Potts Model with Dipolar-like Interactions

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple model to study the microstructure formation in martensitic transitions, revealing kinetic constraints caused by variant competition that hinder optimal microstructure development.

Contribution

The study presents a novel random-field Potts model with dipolar interactions to analyze microstructure dynamics in martensitic transformations under disorder.

Findings

Kinetic constraints limit microstructure optimization

Variant competition affects transition pathways

Disorder influences microstructure formation

Abstract

We have developed a simple model for the study of a cubic to tetragonal martensitic transition, under athermal conditions, in systems with a certain amount of disorder. We have performed numerical simulations that allow for a statistical study of the dynamics of the transition when the system is driven from the high-temperature cubic phase to the low-temperature degenerate tetragonal phase. Our goal is to reveal the existence of kinetic constraints that arise from competition between the equivalent variants of the martensitic phase, and which prevent the system from reaching optimal final microstructures.