The grain boundary character distribution was a direct measurement that could be determined from a single planar section. Since the grain boundary character distribution was inversely related to the grain-boundary energy distribution, it offered a useful metric for validating grain boundary energy calculations. Comparisons between the measured grain-boundary character distribution and calculated energies for 388 grain boundaries in Al showed that, for boundaries with a statistically reliable number of observations, including general, Σ3, Σ7, Σ11 and <111> twist boundaries, the grain boundary character distribution and calculated grain boundary energy had weighted correlation coefficients of approximately 0.9, reproducing both qualitative and quantitative trends seen in simulations. Grain boundary character distributions for Ni and Al were positively correlated, as predicted by simulation. By combining grain-boundary character distribution measurements with simulation results, grain-boundary energy simulations in both low and high stacking-fault energy metals was validated.

Validating Computed Grain Boundary Energies in FCC Metals Using the Grain Boundary Character Distribution. E.A.Holm, G.S.Rohrer, S.M.Foiles, A.D.Rollett, H.M.Miller, D.L.Olmsted: Acta Materialia, 2011, 59[13], 5250-6