Numerical and experimental studies of surface-pulsed magneto-oscillation on solidification

Experimental and numerical methods were used to study the distribution of magnetic field, flow field, temperature, and solidification structure in pure Al under surface-pulsed magneto-oscillation (SPMO). The numerical modeling showed that electromagnetic force changed with time and location in molten Al. In the melt, electromagnetic force resulted in cyclic tensile and compressive loads and in intensive forcedconvection. Application of SPMO refined the solidified structure and reoriented the growth direction of columnar grains. Surface oscillations induced by electromagnetic force resulted in grain refinement while the corresponding forced convection contributed to change of growth direction of columnar grains. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.