MicroProcSim: A Software for Simulation of Microstructure Evolution.

Abstract

Understanding the large deformation behavior of materials under external forces is crucial for reliable engineering applications. The mechanical properties of materials depend on their underlying microstructures, which change over time during deformation. Experimental observation of these processes is time-consuming and influenced by various conditions. Therefore, we developed MicroProcSim, a physics-based simulation tool to replicate the deformation process of cubic microstructures. MicroProcSim can predict the evolution of texture, represented by the orientation distribution function (ODF), over time under various loads and strain rates. This software package can be run on both Windows and Linux operating systems. Unlike conventional crystal plasticity finite element software, MicroProcSim offers a distinct advantage by rapidly generating deformed textures, as it bypasses incorporating grain morphology. Furthermore, comparisons with existing experimental and computational studies on texture evolution have demonstrated that this software seamlessly replicates real-world material processing conditions through a simple modification of a single input matrix.<h4>Editor’s video summary</h4>The online version of this article (10.1007/s40192-025-00405-6) contains an Editor's Video Summary, which is available to authorized users.