Modeling grain boundaries using a phase-field technique

We propose a two-dimensional phase-field model of grain boundary dynamics. One-dimensional analytical solutions for a stable grain boundary in a bicry stal are obtained, and equilibrium energies are computed. By comparison wit h microscopic models of dislocation walls. insights into the physical accur acy of this model can be obtained. Indeed, for a particular choice of funct ional dependencies in the model, the grain boundary energy takes the same a nalytic form as the microscopic (dislocation) model of Read and Shockley. ( C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.