Papers by Author: N. Ryum

Abstract: Computer simulations of 2D normal grain growth have shown that size correlations between adjacent grains exist in 2D grain structures. These correlations prevail during the coarsening process and influence on the kinetics of the process and on the grain size distribution. Hillert’s analysis starts with the assumption that all grains in the structure have the same environment. Since computer simulations contradict this assumption, the mean-field theory for normal grain growth needs to be modified. A first attempt was made by Hunderi and Ryum, who modified Hillert’s growth law to include the effect of spatial grain size correlations. In the 1D case the distributions derived by means of the modified growth law agreed well with simulation data. However, the distribution derived for 2D grain growth retained unwanted properties of the Hillert distribution. We review some recent progress in developing a mean-field statistical theory. A paradox related to curvilinear polygons is shown to support the expectation that the grain size distribution has a finite cutoff.