Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) for Developing Aluminum Alloys

The ICME (Integrated Computational Materials Engineering) for aluminum alloys was applied to combine key experiments with multi-scale numerical simulations from nano (10^-10-10^-8 m) to micro (10^-8-10^-4 m) to meso (10^-4-10^-2 m) and to macro (10^-2-10 m) during the whole R&D (research and development) process of aluminum alloys. Using integrated analysis of the composition-processing-structure-properties, the methodology for developing aluminum alloys was promoted from trial and error to scientific design, SO the R & D of aluminum alloys was significantly speed up and the cost was reduced. In this paper, multi-scale simulation approaches including Ab-initio, CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagram), phase field, and finite element method together with experimental methods characterizing structure and properties are elaborated. The function of each method in the R & D of aluminum alloys is carefully discussed. Based on ICME, the framework for R & D of aluminum alloys, involving end-user demand, product design and industrial design, is established. Two application examples are presented to describe the important role of ICME during the development stage of aluminum alloys, which provides an innovative pattern for R & D of advanced aluminum alloys