Effect of phase coarsening on the mechanical properties of alloys: I. Numerical simulations

To study process-structure-property relationships, the multiparticle diffusion simulation and the finite element method simulation are linked together in this paper. The mechanical properties of alloys during phase coarsening are analyzed with this linkage. The correlation between microstructural evolutions and the corresponding variations of mechanical properties during phase coarsening in alloys is investigated. We study how the resultant hardness, strength, ductility, and fracture toughness of the alloy depend on the microstructural evolution driven by phase coarsening in alloys. Related analysis demonstrates that considerable degradations occur for the mechanical properties of alloys during phase coarsening, which are sensitive to microstructures in the alloys. Our work shows that the linkage of multiparticle diffusion simulation to finite element method simulation provides a practical approach to investigate process-structure-property relationships. Our simulation results can predict the microstructural evolution, the main deformation and failure characteristics of alloys.