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Updated: Feb 22, 2026

Methods of Ex Situ and In Situ Investigations of Structural Transformations: The Case of Crystallization of Metallic Glasses
Published on: June 7, 2018
Growth kinetics and morphology of snowflakes in supersaturated atmosphere using a three-dimensional phase-field model
G Demange1, H Zapolsky1, R Patte1
1GPM, UMR CNRS 6643, University of Rouen, 76575 Saint Étienne du Rouvray, France.
Abstract:
Simulating ice crystal growth is a major issue for meteorology and aircraft safety. Yet, very few models currently succeed in reproducing correctly the diversity of snow crystal forms, and link the model parameters to thermodynamic quantities. Here, we demonstrate that the new three-dimensional phase-field model developed in Demange et al. [npj Comput. Mater. 3, 1 (2017)2057-396010.1038/s41524-017-0015-1] is capable of reproducing properly the morphology and growth kinetics of snowflakes in supersaturated atmosphere. Aside from that, we show that the growth dynamics of snow crystals satisfies the selection theory, consistently with previous experimental observations. Finally, we link the parameters of the phase-field model to atmospheric parameters.
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