Abstract
This article investigates the thermal distortion of a funnel mold for continuous casting of thin slabs and explores the implications on taper and solidification of the steel shell. The threedimensional mold temperatures are calculated using shell-mold heat flux and cooling water profiles that were calibrated with plant measurements. The thermal stresses and distorted shape of the mold are calculated with a detailed finite-element model of a symmetric fourth of the entire mold and waterbox assembly, and they are validated with plant thermocouple data and measurements of the wear of the narrow-face copper mold plates. The narrow-face mold distorts into the typical parabolic arc, and the wide face distorts into a "W" shape owing to the large variation in bolt stiffnesses. The thermal expansion of the wide face works against the applied narrow-face taper and funnel effects, so the effect of thermal distortion must be considered to accurately predict the ideal mold taper.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1156-1172 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B: Process Metallurgy and Materials Processing Science |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2012 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Mechanics of Materials
- Metals and Alloys
- Materials Chemistry