A multiple level set method for modeling grain boundary evolution of polycrystalline materials

In this paper, we model grain boundary evolution based on a multiple level set method. Grain boundary migration under a curvature-induced driving force is considered and the level set method is employed to deal with the resulting topological changes of grain structures. The complexity of using a level set method for modeling grain structure evolution is due to its N-phase nature and the associated geometry compatibility constraint. We employ a multiple level set method with a predictor-multicorrectors approach to reduce the gaps in the triple junctions down to the grid resolution level. A ghost cell approach for imposing periodic boundary conditions is introduced without solving a constrained problem with a Lagrange multiplier method or a penalty method. Numerical results for both uniform and random grain structures evolution are presented and the results are compared with the solutions based on a front tracking approach (Chen and Kotta et al. 2004b).