A Scale-Separated Full-Field Monopole Method for Precipitation Modelling

Abstract

A scale-separated monopole method is developed for full-field prediction of precipitation under conditions where particle-scale diffusion fields coexist with solute variations over much larger distances. Precipitates are represented by monopole Green's-function solutions, providing a particle-based description of interacting particle growth and dissolution. The direct quasistatic formulation is validated against transient finite-difference calculations and a conventional Kampmann--Wagner numerical model, but becomes inappropriate when spatially heterogeneous particle populations generate slowly relaxing long-wavelength concentration fields. An Ewald decomposition is therefore used to separate the diffusion field by spatial scale. Screened particle-scale fields are treated quasistatically, while the complementary long-range field evolves by transient diffusion. The resulting hybrid formulation retains explicit particle-level precipitation kinetics while allowing mesoscale solute redistribution to evolve on its physical timescale. Application to Al--Sc demonstrates that a transient depletion field generated by localized precipitation can suppress subsequent nucleation and produce persistent spatial variations in precipitate number density and volume fraction.

arXiv comment34 pages, 10 figures plus supplimental materials