Comparison of phase-field and cellular automaton models for dendritic solidification in Al-Cu alloy

Results of a cellular automaton model and a phase field model are compared for simulations of dendritic solidification of an Al-4wt% Cu alloy, two-and three-dimensionally at different undercoolings. For the 2D problem, quantitative comparison of steady state dendrite tip velocities with the Lipton Glicksman Kurz model reveals a closer agreement of the phase field results as compared to the CA results. In contrast, the 3D simulation exhibits a better match of CA results with the model, as the influence of the artifacts from the coarse grid of the CA model decreases. In a comparison of the simulated dendrites' morphologies, the differences in two and three dimensions respectively, are quantified especially concerning primary arm thickness and secondary arm geometry and spacing. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.