SIMULATION OF DENDRITE MORPHOLOGY IN THE PRESENCE OF PARTICLES

A computer simulation model is developed for visualising the effect of particles on the evolution of dendrite morphology. The simulation is performed on a two dimensional square grid for dendrites of a pure mat erial growing into an undercooled liquid. Particles of different therm al diffusivities and sizes are dispersed in the grid. The particles al ter the local temperature held and also act as physical barriers to de ndrite arm growth. Consequent changes to the dendrite morphology are o bserved. The morphology changes are studied as a function of particle volume fraction and thermal diffusivity. Copyright (C) 1996 Acta Metal lurgica Inc.