Coupled simulation of heat transfer and phase transformation in continuous casting of steel

Abstract

A computer software package has been developed to simulate temperature, shell growth and phase transformations in continuous casting of steel. The package includes two earlier developed models, a heat transfer model and a thermodynamic-kinetic phase transformation model. The phase transformation model takes into account the effect of alloying and cooling on the phase transformation temperatures and on this basis, on important, solidification related thermophysical properties, enthalpy and thermal conductivity, generated by the model. Hence, while affecting these properties, the phase transformations have a special influence on the heat transfer in the strand. The output of these coupled calculations are temperature distribution, phase distribution (liquid, delta ferrite and austenite, and approximately, proeutectoid ferrite, pearlite, bainite and martensite) and volume distribution through the strand, and also, hardness distribution on the cross-section of the strand at room temperature. Characteristics of the coupled model and some results of calculations are presented. © 1996 ISIJ.