Micro–macro simulation of sintering process by coupling Monte Carlo and finite element methods.pdfVIP

International Journal of Mechanical Sciences 46 (2004) 841–854 Micro–macro simulation of sintering process b ycoupling Monte Carlo and nite element methods a ;∗ b a K. Mori , H. Matsubara , N. Noguchi a Department of Production Systems Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Toyohashi University of Technology, Hibarigaoka 1-1, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi, Aichi 441-8580, Japan b Research and Development Laboratory, Japan Fine Ceramics Center, Mutsuno, Atsuta, Nagoya, Aichi 456-8587 Japan Received 10 November 2003; received in revised form 14 Ma y2004; accepted 6 June 2004 Abstract A micro–macro method for simulating a sintering process of ceramic powder compacts based on the Monte Carlo and nite element methods is proposed. Macroscopic non-uniform shrinkage during the sintering is calculated b ythe viscoplastic nite element method. In the microscopic approach using the Monte Carlo method, powder particles and pores among the particles are divided into man ycells, and the growth of grains in the particles and the disappearance of pores are simulated b ymeans of the Potts model.The shrinkage strain rate required as a materials constant in the macroscopic method is calculated b ythe microscopic approach. The microscopic and macroscopic approaches are coupled b yexchanging microscopic and macroscopic results in each nite element step. In the Monte Carlo method, the eect of macroscopic viscoplastic defo