We used a modified version of the phase-field model for dendritic growth of a pure material. Surface tension anisotropy is again present. In the latter model solid diffusion is smaller than that in the liquid. Simulations done with the symmetric model plot the chemical potential, where blue represents liquid, and red solid. Simulations made with the two-sided model plot solute concentration directly, with red representing high concentration and light green low.
Time is measured in units of the interface attachment time, tau, of the phase-field model.
More on this work will appear in upcoming publications. The snapshot below shows a sequence of dendrites growing during a two-sided directional solidification simulation. The material properties are such that the solid diffusion is 0.1 X liquid diffusion. The following simulations show the evolution of a directionally solidified microstructure when the crystalline anisotropy direction is inclined at 45 degrees to the pulling direction. Still frame of concentration field , MPEG movie or animated GIF .