Comparison between different numerical models of densification during solid-state sintering of pure aluminium powder

This paper focuses on studying different numerical models to simulate a solid-state sintering process with grain boundary diffusion for the components made of pure aluminium powders. A continuum model based on the linear viscous law is introduced to describe the mechanical behavior during sintering. To identify the parameters in the constitutive law (shear and bulk viscosity moduli in addition to sintering stress), various macroscopic models were utilized. Beside the mass conservation equation which regulates the densification process, Kang's model based on Herring's scale law, which takes into account the role of grain boundaries and diffusion area in densification, is also used to describe the densification process. These numerical models have been implemented in FORTRAN subroutine UMAT and solved using the FE-software ABAQUS/Standard. Finally, the densification behavior of each model is compared to each other.