应用计算机数值模拟技术研究金属凝固显微组织的形成规律是材料科学发展的重要前沿领域之一。文章对该领域的最新研究进展作了简要评述；重点介绍了作者发展的一个改进的MCA(modified cellular automaton)模型的特点以及应用该模型在合金凝固组织 数值模拟方面的一些主要工作。

Computer simulation has been one of the most important and advanced research fields in the materials science and engineering. It is playing an increasing important role in the studies of microstructural evolution during solidification of metals and alloys. In this paper, the recent progress in computer simulation of solidification microstructures is briefly reviewed. Various models including deterministic and stochastic approaches for the prediction of solidification microstructures are compared and assessed. Then, a modified cellular automaton ( MCA) model developed by the authors is introduced and its predictive capabilities are described by presenting some examples including the modeling of 2D & 3D dendritic growth, non-dendritic or globular microstructure evolution in semi-solid process, eutectic and peritectic microstructure formation, as well as the asymmetric dendritic growth features in the presence of melt convection.