Since the interaction between the second-phase particle and grain boundary was theoretically explained by Zener and Smith in the late 1940s, the interaction of the second-phase particle and grain boundary on the microstructure is commonly referred to as Zener pinning. It is known as one of the main mechanisms that can retard grain growth during heat treatment of metallic and ceramic polycrystalline systems. Computer simulation techniques have been applied to the study of microstructure changes since the 1980s, and accordingly, the second-phase particle–grain boundary interaction has been simulated by various simulation techniques, and further diverse developments have been made for more realistic and accurate simulations. In this study, we explore the existing development patterns and discuss future possible development directions.

The computer-based simulation tools are currently used overwhelmingly to simulate the performance of automotive designs. Then, the search for an optimal solution that satisfies a number of performance requirements usually involves numerous iterations amon