Development and evaluation of data transfer protocols in the fully coupled random cellular automata finite element model of dynamic recrystallization

Development and application of the hybrid fully coupled, random cellular automata finite element (RCAFE) approach to modelling dynamic recrystallization phenomenon, during a high temperature deformation is the overall goal of the paper. The finite element (FE) solver provides information on equivalent stress, equivalent strain, temperature fields as well as on geometry of deformed computational domain after each time step. These data are transferred to the developed random cellular automata (RCA) model, which is responsible for evaluation of corresponding microstructure morphology evolution and dislocation density changes under dynamic recrystallization (DRX) conditions. Finally, a set of data from the RCA part is send back to the FE solver and used as an input for the next time step. As a result, the fully coupled RCAFE model for simulation of a DRX progress is established. Crucial developments of the RCA model related to the space deformation and efficient neighbors selection are presented within the paper. However, particular attention is put on the development of efficient communication algorithms and methods for input/output data transfer between the FE and RCA modules. The communication protocols based on text files and sockets have different levels of complexity but both are based on the Abaqus VUMAT subroutine. Their capabilities and limitations are evaluated within the paper. Finally, an application of the proposed RCAFE method to simulation of a dynamic recrystallization progress at the level of single grains is presented and discussed to highlight capabilities of the model.