Seminar by Leslie T. Mushongera

Analysis of Microstructural Evolution in Ni-Based Superalloys by Means of The Phase-Field Approach

Leslie T. Mushongera

Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Purdue University

The phase-field approach has emerged as a powerful tool for modeling and predicting mesoscale morphological evolution in metallic alloys. With thermodynamic and kinetic information as input, the phase-field method is able to predict the evolution of arbitrary morphologies and complex microstructures without explicitly tracking interfaces. Using the phase-field approach, the role played by microsegregation on microstructural pattern formation during casting, additive manufacturing and subsequent heat treatments of Ni-base superalloys will be analyzed. A concept of the coupling of CALPHAD and kinetic databases to phase-field modeling could be used to compliment experiments in alloy design and processing.

Leslie T. Mushongera is a postdoctoral research assistant in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Purdue University. He graduated in 2016 with a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Bayreuth, Germany. His current research is on developing a fatigue prognosis framework for additive manufactured Ni-base superalloys based on crystal plasticity finite element modeling.