Integrated research program for through-process modeling of Al alloys

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The proposed research program will elucidate and link the fundamental metallurgical processes such as solidification, intermetallic particle formation, work hardening and recrystallization inherent to microstructure development in aluminum alloy sheet production through the entire industrial manufacturing process, including casting, homogenization, hot rolling, cold rolling and annealing. It will be unique in it scope in Canada and internationally as it will marry a diverse set of skills and techniques, ranging from molecular dynamics, phase field modeling and Monte Carlo simulation to thermodynamic models of nucleation and texture evolution. The ultimate goal of this project is to self-consistently link inputs, outputs and knowledge generated from several fundamental microscopic models, thereby providing a first-generation through process modeling (TPM) chain of the effects of processing history on the properties of aluminum alloys. A defining character of this program is that the research will be undertaken jointly at the University of Waterloo and McMaster University, leveraging research expertise at each University that covers the entire spectrum of aforementioned phenomena involved in rolled aluminum sheet production. This work will benefit from the participation of our industrial partner, Novelis Global technology Centre, which will dedicate a TMP specialist to work with the university team to help validate their efforts by comparing simulations and models against industrial experiments and practices.