  This work is based upon a coupled, lattice-based continuum formulation that
was previously applied to problems involving strong coupling between mechanics
and mass transport; e.g. diffusional creep and electromigration. Here we
discuss an enhancement of this formulation to account for migrating grain
boundaries. The level set method is used to model grain-boundary migration in
an Eulerian framework where a grain boundary is represented as the zero level
set of an evolving higher-dimensional function. This approach can easily be
generalized to model other problems involving migrating interfaces; e.g. void
evolution and free-surface morphology evolution. The level-set equation is
recast in a remarkably simple form which obviates the need for spatial
stabilization techniques. This simplified level-set formulation makes use of
velocity extension and field re-initialization techniques. In addition, a
least-squares smoothing technique is used to compute the local curvature of a
grain boundary directly from the level-set field without resorting to
higher-order interpolation. A notable feature is that the coupling between mass
transport, mechanics and grain-boundary migration is fully accounted for. The
complexities associated with this coupling are highlighted and the
operator-split algorithm used to solve the coupled equations is described.
