A cellular automaton-finite element (CA-FE) model was used to predict the solidification grain structure of permanent mold cast A7086 alloy. In this model, a Gaussian distribution of nucleation sites was adopted, and the Kurz-Giovanola-Trivedi model was extended to a multicomponent Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloy system to determine the growth kinetics of the dendrite tip. For describing the Gaussian distribution of nucleation sites on the mold surface, an empirical relationship between the initial cooling rate of the melt and the nucleation density was proposed. Under various casting conditions, the calculated grain structures agreed well with the experimental results. Subsequently, the model was applied to the direct-chill (DC) cast billets, and the simulated grain structures reproduced well the experimental results. This confirmed that the current CA-FE model can be used practically and effectively in DC casting processes.

元胞自动机-有限元 (CA-FE) 模型用于预测永久模铸 A7086 合金的凝固晶粒结构。在该模型中，采用了成核位点的高斯分布，并将 Kurz-Giovanola-Trivedi 模型扩展到多组分 Al-Zn-Mg-Cu 合金系统，以确定枝晶尖端的生长动力学。为了描述模具表面形核位置的高斯分布，提出了熔体初始冷却速度与形核密度之间的经验关系。在不同的铸造条件下，计算的晶粒结构与实验结果吻合良好。随后，将该模型应用于直冷 (DC) 铸坯，模拟的晶粒结构很好地再现了实验结果。