Competitive stochastic growth model for the 3D morphology of eutectic Si in Al–Si alloys

A competitive stochastic growth model is developed for the simulation of the 3D morphology of eutectic silicon in Al–Si alloys, which represents the colonies of pairwise disconnected Si corals in an Al matrix. The model is based on ideas from stochastic geometry and multivariate time series analysis. The 3D model is validated by comparing morphological characteristics computed for experimental 3D FIB-SEM data, and for realizations drawn from the model. Good agreement between the simulation model and the experimental image data is shown confirming the efficiency of using the competitive stochastic growth model for the generation of virtual eutectic silicon morphologies.

► Development of a stochastic model describing the 3D morphology of eutectic Si in Al–Si alloys. ► Competitive growth model organized by means of multivariate time series. ► Fitting parameters of 3D stochastic model to FIB-SEM images of Al–Si alloys. ► Model validation by means of structural characteristics.