Digital image analysis and microstructure modeling tools for microstructure sensitive design of materials

Microstructures contain features at length scales ranging from nanometers to millimeters. These features have complex geometry, their locations and orientations are often non-uniform, and spatial correlations usually exist. In such complex microstructures, deformation and fracture processes are governed by several types of microstructural features present at different length scales, multiple fracture micro-mechanisms contribute to the overall fracture, and spatial correlations and microstructural gradients affect the fracture path. These microstructural complexities provide opportunities and challenges for microstructure sensitive design of materials. In this contribution, we present digital image analysis and microstructure modeling tools that can provide useful input for microstructure sensitive design of materials through incorporation of the detailed microstructural geometry in the simulations of materials behavior. Digital image analysis and microstructure modeling based methodologies are presented for performing finite elements (FE) based simulations on the realistic microstructure models and two- and three-dimensional microstructural digital images, and for linking the interactions among microstructural features at different length scales.