Study on solidification structure of wheel steel round billet using FE-CA coupling model

Abstract

Solidification structure of wheel steel round billet during the continuous casting process was simulated using FE (Finite Element)-CA (Cellular Automaton) coupling model. Variation of thermo-physical parameters during solidification was considered based on a thermodynamic database. Meanwhile effect of electromagnetic stirring (EMS) was reflected by increasing both the thermal conductivity and crystal formation rate in liquid phase. It was found that the cooling curves and solidification structure calculated by this model agreed well with that in experiments. Optimum casting temperature range was discussed based on the simulation results and actual conditions in plant. An optimized casting superheat will be no more than 25°C in order to obtain at least 50% equiaxed crystal ratio, while the degree of segregation in the billet is less than 1.05 correspondingly. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.