| Abstract Scope |
Additive manufacturing (AM) processes involve complex interactions between heat transfer, fluid flow, and microstructure evolution, yet many phase-field models of solidification regarding this process still neglect melt convection. In this work, we present a coupled framework that integrates fluid flow with solidification modelling under AM conditions, enabling a more physically consistent prediction of microstructural development. Using processing parameters extracted from a laser-based process, we demonstrate how melt pool convection redistributes thermal and solute fields, altering solidification velocities and local composition gradients. These effects lead to microstructural features that deviate from predictions by purely diffusive models, highlighting the role of fluid dynamics in governing phase selection and morphological stability. These results underscore that incorporating fluid flow effects needs to be considered for advancing solidification theory in the context of AM, which may offer new insights into microstructure control in these systems. |