OpenPhase is a powerful microstructure simulation suite made for metallic materials.
OpenPhase Studio is a powerful microstructure simulation suite made for metallic materials. Using multi-physics models embedded in the phase-field method, materials processes such as solidification, tempering, mechanical testing and many more can be simulated. OpenPhase is available in two flavours, OpenPhase Studio and OpenPhase Core. OpenPhase Studio is our full-featured microstructure simulation suite with user-friendly GUI, intuitive simulation setup and on-the-fly data analysis. An open-source C++ library is available with OpenPhase Core, which includes the core OpenPhase functionality and offers full flexibility in building custom simulations. OpenPhase enables you to
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Additive manufacturing (AM) enables innovative part geometries and dynamic production processes. AM submits the material to extremely high cooling rates and thermal gradients, which results in unique microstructures and materials properties. OpenPhase provides detailed insights into microstructure evolution in the context of additive manufacturing.
Process parameters control dendrite spacing and shape, concentration gradients, nucleation kinetics and mechanical properties. OpenPhase evaluates these properties through simulation of physics-based models resolved in space and time. The figure below shows the simulation of additive manufacturing in Ni-base superalloys (color scale: temperature, grey scale: nickel concentration). Using simulations like this, new process conditions and materials can be explored quickly, saving valuable time and resources.
Temperature/Energy input
Thermodynamics/Kinetics
Temperature/Energy input
Thermodynamics/Kinetics
Correctly capturing temperature/energy input in additive manufacturing is paramount in additive manufacturing. This is not only relevant when simulating the initial rapid solidification, but also for simulating the influence the repeated heating steps in a build process have on the microstructure.
OpenPhase® is equipped with two different ways of simulating temperature: direct, prescribed temperature history/temperature gradient or heat extraction/input where temperature is a result of solving the heat diffusion equation. When using the former, i.e. prescribing the temperature history, the temperature and gradient can be set from a csv file, enabling quick and easy microstructure simulations from measured or simulated temperature history. The latter method, simulating heat diffusion considers the significant latent heat generated by the phase transformation happening in additive manufacturing.
Thermodynamics and kinetics dictate the solidification path and ultimately are the most important factor for determining the final microstructure. OpenPhase therefore offers coupling to thermodynamic and kinetic databases currently through Thermo-Calc® or OpenPhase® native databases with more interfaces to come. The thermodynamic and kinetic data is fed into the highly precise multi-component diffusion solver of OpenPhase®, solving for the diffusional fluxes and the resulting phase distribution resolved in 3D space and time.
OpenPhase Studio
The full-featured microstructure simulation suite OpenPhase Studio offers an intuitive GUI including documentation and on-the-fly visualization. New simulations can be quickly created from pre-defined material and process presets.
OpenPhase Core
If flexibility is essential, a powerful C++ library is available in OpenPhase Core. The open-source code can be expanded by using OpenPhase Modules, such as OP Advanced Mechanics and OP Thermodynamics.
Support
OpenPhase support answers technical and scientific questions and helps you quickly find the right simulation setup for your material and process parameters.
Custom Solutions
Custom solutions range from custom simulations tailored to your research over implementation of new models to parameter studies and development of custom interfaces.
In the quest for more fuel-efficient turbines, developing heat resistant materials for turbine blades is a high priority. Mechanical properties and especially creep behaviour at high temperatures are of utmost importance, as turbine blade elongation determines the effective lifespan of the blade.
OpenPhase Studio is used here to simulate microstructure evolution under creep conditions and visualize creep behaviour, stress-strain diagrams and other properties of the simulated domain for more efficient material research.
Microstructure evolution
Mechanical properties
Microstructure evolution
Mechanical properties
OpenPhase excels at simulating microstructure evolution under the consideration of various physical effects. In this example, creep in Ni-base superalloys at 950°C and 350 MPa stress is simulated. The microstructure evolution is determined by the interaction of Interface kinetics, Diffusion, Plasticity and Elasticity. All simulated quantities are available at all times in the simulation and yield quantities such as creep curve, phase fraction, element distribution, etc.
The simulation approach is very general and can be transferred to different material systems and processes where phase transformation and/or plasticity are of interest, such as tensile tests or heat treatments.
For most metallic materials good mechanical properties are of paramount importance. These properties are determined by the grains, phases, precipitates and defects that make up the microstructure. In nickel-base superalloys gamma- and gamma'-phase form a unique microstructure with gamma' cubes embedded in a gamma matrix. This microstructure evolves during creep deformation and yields outstanding creep properties.
OpenPhase facilitates diffusion, phase transformation, elasticity and plasticity modules to simulate creep deformation in Ni-base superalloys precisely on a microstructural level. Spatial and temporal resolution of all simulated quantities (e.g. plastic strain in figures b and c) enables analysis of microstructural processes. The macroscopic effect of these processes is visualized in the creep curve (figure a).
The simulation approach is very general and can be transferred to different material systems and processes where phase transformation and/or plasticity are of interest, such as tensile tests or heat treatments.
The development of OpenPhase started in 2008 at ICAMS, one of the world-leading materials simulation institutes. With today over 50 man-years of development, OpenPhase is the most feature-rich phase-field code available. Continuous development by the OpenPhase Solutions Team ensures that OpenPhase is state-of-the-art in simulating microstructure evolution.
Intuitive graphical user-interface
Guided creation of simulations, integrated documentation and presets for various materials and processes.
Modular library
OpenPhase Studio and OpenPhase Core use a modular structure that allows combining different physical modules into a single simulation or simulate a complex process through consecutive simulation steps.
Powerful diffusion module
Realistic simulation of diffusion and phase transformation. Coupling to Thermo-Calc and Open Calphad enables realistic simulation of complex material systems.
Extensive mechanics module
Elasticity, crystal plasticity and finite strain for complex mechanics simulations on evolving or static microstructures
Straightforward flow solver
Lattice Boltzmann solver for calculating melt flow during solidification
Flexible nucleation and microstructure creation
Easy creation of initial microstructures, realistic nucleation based on various properties.
Dr. Oleg Shchyglo
Consultant
Prof. Dr. Ingo Steinbach
Senior Consultant
The phase-field method was once developed for this very problem: casting simulations. Since then, many new developments have raised this method to the tool of choice for researching microstructure development and evolution during and after casting.
In this dendritic solidification simulation conducted with OpenPhase Studio, the focus is on the transport of alloying elements by means of fluid flow and diffusion in liquid, as well as solid. Fluid flow is visualized with coloured lines, illustrating flow velocity.
Segregration Profile
Melt Flow
Segregration Profile
Melt Flow
Solidification is a process that never happens in equilibrium. Formation of segregated regions is inevitable and determines further process steps and materials properties. OpenPhase resolves the distribution of elements at any point in the simulation using its innovative multi-component diffusion model. Thermodynamic and kinetic data can be obtained from Thermo-Calc®, OpenCALPHAD or supplied directly by the user.
OpenPhase includes a powerful Lattice-Boltzmann solver, which can be used concurrently with the phase-field simulation or sequentially, such as in this example. Here, a dendrite forest was obtained from a Mg-5%Al-cast alloy solidification simulation. Then, the permeability of this dendrite forest for the melt was evaluated using the Lattice Boltzmann solver. This simulation yields valuable information on the flowability of the melt, depending on the microstructure morphology and solid-liquid fraction.
OpenPhase Solutions GmbH acknowledges funding by the federal state NRW within the Mittelstand.Innovativ! funding program.
