ITL’s Allen develops anisotropic growth grain simulation model

Published Sept. 17, 2013
Allen

Allen

VICKSBURG, Miss. - ERDC Information Technology Laboratory’s (ITL) Dr. Jeff Allen has developed a simulation method that models the anisotropic grain growth of a polycrystalline ceramic during sintering conditions that are subject to thermal gradients.

Sintering is the method used to produce polycrystalline ceramics by fusing together individual grains through the application of heat and pressure. 

Allen’s research is part of the ERDC Advanced Materials Initiative, a collaboration of the Geotechnical and Structures, Information Technology, Construction Engineering Research, and Environmental Laboratories.  . The initiative’s goal is to develop structural materials that have several-fold improvement in engineering properties over existing materials.  

Anisotropic grain structure in ceramics is one of the material design parameters ERDC researchers are considering in achieving such improvements.  Allen’s research is a significant contribution toward the engineering of the ceramic manufacturing process to produce prescribed anisotropic grain structure. 

Allen wrote an article that was recently accepted for publication in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Journal of Engineering Materials and Technology.  Co-authors of the paper included Dr. Charles Cornwell, Dr. Bryce Devine and Dr. Bob Welch, all of ITL.