Analysis of heat transfer and thermal stress in continuous casting with mechanical reduction

Abstract

An integrated analysis model of the heat transfer and thermal stress based on the FDM and FEM has been developed for continuous casting with the mechanical reduction. The thickness reduction, and the internal heat source during solidification of the slab are taken into account. Temperature distribution and cooling history have been calculated for the multi-component steel slab using a back-diffusion equation. The depth of the liquid core to the meniscus reduces, and temperatures both at the surface and the center in the lower region of the slab decrease with increasing of the liquid core reduction rate in continuous casting. The surface temperature rebounds after the slab passes the chilling regions such as the mold and the spray zone. A combined thermo-elastic-plastic model has been employed to address the thermal stress evolution in the mold and the mechanical reduction regions of continuous casting. The deformation of strand as well as the air gap between the mold and the solidifying steel shell, are numerically simulated. The result predicted indicates a consistence with the values obtained by theoretical analysis.