Evaluation of pressurizing effects on the sintering process by coupled macro-micro modeling

New sintering analysis method is proposed and developed by using the macro-micro coupling model with homogenization method for quantitative evaluation on the geometric changes of both green and brown materials. Together with description of deformed bulk work materials, this method enables us to make precise prediction of their microscopic structural change and shrinkage in sintering. Variational principle in the elasto-creep frame is utilized to make formulations for both macro and micro models and to simulate time history of geometric configuration, creep strain and stress in macro and micro models. Several numerical examples are employed to verify the validity and effectiveness of the present method and to investigate the effect of static pressure on the sintering process.