Simulation of continuous dynamic recrystallization using a level-set method

TL;DR

This paper introduces a comprehensive numerical framework using level-set methods to simulate microstructure evolution during dynamic recrystallization, aiding understanding and prediction of microstructural changes in hot forming processes.

Contribution

It presents a novel full-field simulation approach for microstructure evolution during continuous dynamic recrystallization, incorporating detailed substructure modeling and microstructure topology effects.

Findings

Successfully simulated grain growth in substructured microstructures.

Analyzed the effects of microstructure topology and subgrain parameters.

Evaluated the impact of grain boundary properties and nucleation rules.

Abstract

Dynamic recrystallization is one of the main phenomena responsible for microstructure evolutions during hot forming. Consequently, getting a better understanding of DRX mechanisms and being able to predict them is crucial. This paper proposes a full-field numerical framework to predict the evolution of subgrain structures upon grain growth, continuous dynamic and post-dynamic recrystallization. The microstructure representation into the numerical environment is presented. The developments made to improve substructure description are detailed extensively. Using these simulation tools, simulation of grain growth of a fully substructured microstructure are run. The influence of microstructure topology, of subgrain parameters and of some remaining stored energy due to plastic deformation is discussed. An analysis of the criterion for discrimination of recrystallized grains is proposed. Finally, the ability of the framework to model continuous dynamic and post-dynamic recrystallization is assessed upon a case study. The influence of grain boundary properties and of nucleation rules are studied. The representativity of the results in regards of experimental data will be discussed in an upcoming article.