Phase field simulation of dendrite growth under convection

The phase-field model coupled with a flow field was used to simulate the solidification of pure materials by the finite difference method. The effects of initial crystal radius, the space step and the interface thickness on the dendrite growth were studied. Results indicate that the grain grows into an equiaxial dendrite during free flow and into a typical branched structure under forced flow. The radius of an initial crystal can affect the growth of side-branches but not the stability of the dendrite's tip when an appropriate value is assigned to it. With an increase in space steps, side-branches appear at the upstream of the longitudinal principal branch and they grow rapidly. With an increase in the interface thickness, the trunk of the longitudinal upstream and lateral principal branches grow longer and become more slender while the number of secondary branches increases.