Thermomechanical model of a continuous casting process

A model for the analysis of thermal stresses arising at the early stage of a continuous casting process is proposed. The model is used to simulate the casting of round billets assuming axial symmetry. Thermal analysis takes into account phase-change in the material and heat transfer through the mould. The heat balance equation is solved using an Eulerian formulation for the billet domain, while the mould is analyzed using a Lagrangian one. Heat transfer from biller to mould is simulated assuming non-linear heat conduction through the air gap formed between them. Air conductivity is taken as a function of temperature. Two mechanical models are built assuming elastoplastic and viscoplastic hardening materials. Both Lagrangian and Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) techniques have been implemented and compared. In the latter, advection of the history-dependent material parameters is taken into account using an appropriate finite volume integration scheme. Stresses and strains obtained with both models are compared, showing a good agreement. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.