Simulating grain size estimation

Abstract

3D Voronoi tessellations generated by four point processes with widely different cell size distributions have been chosen as the models of the polycrystalline gain structure. Simulated planar and line sections have been then examined by manual analysis and by computerized analogy of automatic image analysis. The grain size estimation procedures recommended by the ASTM Standards are compared with the known values obtained by medium scale stochastic simulations. Finally, a new approximate method of estimating the mean grain volume is proposed.