3-DIMENSIONAL SIMULATION OF METALLIC POWDER COMPRESSION - GLOBAL MICROSTRUCTURAL APPROACH

A three-dimensional random stacking of uniformly sized spheres represe nting the solid phase is simulated and digitised on a computer. The in itial stacking arrangement is then densified by successive dilations o f the solid phase. For each step of the densification; the classical s tereological parameters and a topological one are measured. The succes sive structures obtained during the densification correspond closely t o those provided by the compression of a powder. A quantitative compar ison is then made between the simulation and some experimental results concerning a metallic powder. The three-dimensional simulation appear s to be realistic because of the good correlation observed between the se experimental data for the stereological parameters. The topological evolution of a powder stack during compression should then be accurat ely described by this simulation. PM/0628