NETWORK MODELING OF LIQUID METAL TRANSPORT IN SOLIDIFYING ALUMINIUM ALLOYS

摘要

Development of fluid flow within the mushy zone of a DC-casting is important for the optimal control of many properties of the final cast material. We present a new numerical model based on a channel network. It allows to study flow effects at low liquid fractions within the mushy zone on a meso-scopic scale. Simulation of solidification within the channels together with mixing rules on their junctions describes the behaviour of the microstructure. In order to reduce the computational costs, the channels have to be represented by simple geometric objects like tubes. The collective behaviour of many channels within the network indicate the macroscopic effects as they occur in a small region of the mushy zone.