Wave-transformation interaction in polycrystalline martensitic transformation: A coupled phase-field-elastodynamic study

Martensitic transformation (MT) is a rapid displacive process characterized by lattice reconfiguration and transformation strain. While MT is commonly analyzed under quasi-static mechanical equilibrium assumptions, the abrupt lattice distortion inherent to the transformation acts as a dynamic mechanical source that emits transient stress waves. The role of these elastodynamic fields in regulating subsequent phase evolution in polycrystalline solids remains insufficiently understood. In this work, we develop a fully coupled phase-field-elastodynamic
framework that integrates phase kinetics with explicit wave propagation resolved through a high-order orthogonal polynomial approximation. Within this formulation, transformation strains generate stress waves that propagate across grains and continuously reshape the local mechanical driving forces. The simulation results demonstrate that, compared with quasi-static conditions, inertia significantly alters the distribution of mechanical energy, thereby influencing
nucleation behavior and variant growth dynamics. In polycrystalline systems, the phase-fieldelastodynamic model reproduces key microstructural features, including spatially alternating variant arrangements, block partitioning within grains, and characteristic variant width and growth directions. ... mehrThe results obtained with inertia effects are in close agreement with theoretical predictions and experimental observations. These findings extend the conventional understanding of MT in polycrystalline materials.