Three-dimensional Phase-field simulation of free dendrite growth of iron

Abstract

The free dendrite growth of iron has been investigated using a three-dimensional phase-field model with thin-interface-limit parameters. The stability parameters are determined for different values of anisotropy intensity of interface energy, and the obtained values are in good agreement with previously reported values. The dendrite growth velocities of iron at different degrees of undercooling are compared with experimental data, and a good agreement between phase-field simulations and experiments are obtained when the kinetic coefficient is assumed to be 20. The validity of the analytical dendrite model by Lipton, Kurz and Trivedi (LKT model) is also examined, and it is shown that the model gives accurate predictions when suitable parameter values are adopted. © 2007 ISIJ.