Application of a chamfer slab technology to reduce internal cracks of continuous casting bloom during soft reduction process

Abstract

The stress concentrations over the brittle temperature range (BTR) in the bloom continuous casting are the main reason of internal cracks. In order to analyze the stress distribution in the BTR of the blooms during soft reduction stage, a three-dimensional thermo-mechanical finite-element model with different corner structures (i.e. chamfer angle and chamfer length) was established. The relationship between corner structures, maximum tensile stress, as well as shear stress is analyzed, and the influence of corner structure of bloom on the internal cracks is studied. The results show that the tensile stress and the shear stress decreased gradually by properly adjusting the chamfer angle and the chamfer length of the bloom. Compared with the use of the right-angle bloom casting, the application of chamfer bloom casting is able to reduce the stress concentration over the BTR, therefore reduces the internal cracks. In addition, as a side benefit, the chamfer bloom casting can save energy required in deforming the bloom during the soft reduction process.