A simplified model for creep induced grain boundary cavitation validated by multiple cavity growth simulations

Simulations of cavitation processes on a grain boundary under creep conditions have been carried out, taking into account nucleation, growth, coalescence and sintering of multiple cavities. Cavity growth rates have been calculated through a resolution procedure based on the use of holomorphic complex functions. Three dimensionless parameters have been identified that are responsible for the cavitation development. Parameter studies have been carried out in order to characterise the mechanisms that are responsible for the cavitation development. These studies have been used to develop a physically motivated, simplified model in order to describe the cavitation development of the simulations in terms of global state variables. The simplified model is able to reproduce the cavitation development for all considered combinations of the dimensionless parameters and allows the description of the thickening behaviour of a cavitating grain boundary.