Application of the complex network method in solid-state sintering

The microstructure evolution and force distribution during solid-state sintering are studied at the particle length scale for a planar layer system of copper particles. The complex network as well as discrete element methods (DEM) is adopted, in which the contact network and the force network are mainly considered. Comparing the contact network to the microstructure evolution, we find that pores always form in a large contact polygon. In the force network, the normal contact forces distribute extremely non-uniform. An interesting phenomenon is that a ring-like structure of force chain emerges spontaneously in the sintering force networks, whose life expectance is much longer than other linear force chains. Furthermore, a high contact force is more likely to form at a new contact site. To our knowledge, it is the first time to study force distributions and microstructure evolutions in sintering from the complex network point of view, which should be a promising method for further investigating the complex sintering process in the future.