Implementation of a Method for the Generation of Representative Models of Polycrystalline Microstructures in LS-PrePost

The capability of accurately reproducing the microstructural features of polycrystalline materials is of fundamental importance for the correct simulation of the micromechanical behaviour of materials. This paper describes the development and the implementation of VorTeX algorithm for the generation of numerical models representative of real polycrystalline microstructures, and its integration within LS-PrePost. The method presented offers high control over the grain size distribution of the final structure by adopting the so-called Laguerre-Voronoi tessellation techniques. Additional features implemented allow constraints to be imposed on the structure such as symmetrical boundaries and enables the introduction of interface entities (i.e. contacts and cohesive elements) on the grain boundaries to model inter-granular crack propagation.