Modelling the extraordinary strength of superalloys

高温合金的非凡强度(例如用于飞机发动机)是由时效过程中形成的纳米级沉淀造成的。这个过程涵盖了从飞秒到几秒甚至更长的时间尺度，这构成了一个巨大的建模挑战。分离出原子实际上因热振动而围绕其平衡位置移动的罕见事件，可以加快模拟速度，以便研究沉淀形成过程，以期了解并有可能改进它。特别令人感兴趣的是预测的降水路径对所使用的原子模型中的不确定性的稳健性。

The extraordinary strength of superalloys (used e.g. in aeroplane engines) is caused by nanoscale precipitates formed in an ageing process. This process covers timescales from femtoseconds up to seconds and beyond, which poses a formidable modelling challenge. Isolating rare events where atoms actually move from thermal vibrations around their equilibrium position speeds up the simulation to allow studying the precipitate formation process with a view to understanding and potentially improving it. Of particular interest is the robustness of the predicted precipitation pathways to uncertainties in the atomistic model used.