5th International Conference on Advances in Solidification Processes (ICASP-5) 5th International Symposium on Cutting Edge of Computer Simulation of Solidification, Casting and Refining (CSSCR-5)

Mesoscopic envelope models rely on the description of the complex morphology of a dendritic grain by an envelope, which is a smooth surface connecting all of the dendrite tips. This simplification in the description of the grain shape enables to reduce requirements on spatial resolution and allows for modelling of larger number of grains or domains, when compared to more detailed microscopic approaches. Mesoscopic envelope modelling has already shown its capability of simulate columnar growth in transparent alloy systems during directional solidification, including misorientation between columnar grains [1], as well as equiaxed grains [2]. Here, we apply 3D mesoscopic envelope modelling to simulate columnar dendritic growth in the transparent alloy Neopentylglycol-(D)Camphor (NPG-DC) during directional solidification under microgravity conditions. Experimental results for comparison are taken from the « TRACE-3 » experiment [3], conducted on a TEXUS sounding rocket. Special emphasis is put on a comparison of characteristics of columnar growth and the conditions for columnar-to-equiaxed transition CET. [1] Viardin A., Založnik M., Souhar Y., Apel M., Combeau H., 2017, Acta Materialia 122, 386-399. [2] Souhar Y., De Felice V.F., Beckermann C., Combeau H. and Založnik M., 2015, Computational Materials Science 112A, 304–317. [3] Zimmermann G., Hamacher M., Sturz L., 2017, Proc. Of the 23 rd ESA Symposium on European Rocketr and Ballon Programmes and related research, A-035.