Computational simulation of microstructure evolution during solidification of ductile cast iron

Abstract

This paper presents a thermomicrostructural model for the simulation of the solidification process of an eutectic ductile cast iron. The thermal balance is written at a macroscopic level and takes into account both the structural component being cast and its mould. Models of nucleation and growth represent the evolution of the microstructure, and the microsegregation of silicon is also considered. The resulting formulation is solved using a finite element discretisation of the macrodomain, in which the evolution of the microstructure is taken into account at the Gauss integration points. The numerical results are presented in terms of cooling curves and are compared with available experimental values. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the response with respect to changes in the cooling rate and nucleation parameters are investigated. The agreement between experimental and computational values is acceptable in both quantitative and qualitative aspects. Ways to improve the computational model are suggested.     

连铸坯凝固传热数学模型的研究

以永兴钢厂1号方坯连铸机为研究对象，建立连铸坯凝固传热数学模型。对铸坯表面温度进行实测，取得了实测与模型计算基本吻合的结果。再与现场生产实际结合，优化二次冷却制度，铸坯质量得到明显提高，适应下一步开发其它钢种的需要。     

矩形铸坯凝固传热数学模型的研究与应用

依据安负二炼钢厂连铸机改造的要求，建立矩形坯凝固传热数学模型，设计二冷配水软件，并将二冷配水由手动改为自动控制。经投入运行表明，铸坯质量良好，取得明显的效益。     

连铸滚珠轴承钢的质量

介绍夹杂物的种类和大小对滚珠钢接触疲劳的影响.对含Al和不含Al两种滚珠钢的质量进行对比.描述了神户、POSCO、Saar几家钢厂生产滚珠钢的情况.讨论钢中MgO·Al2O3夹杂的来源.     

Numerical simulation of microstructure evolution and microsegregation of U-Nb alloy during solidification process

In this work, a cellular automaton model has been developed to simulate the microstructure evolution of U-Nb alloy during the solidification process. The preferential growth orientation, solute redistribution in both liquid and solid, solid/liquid interface solute conservation, interface curvature and the growth anisotropy were considered in the model. The model was applied to simulate the dendrite growth and Nb microsegregation behavior of U-5.5Nb alloy during solidification, and the predicted results showed a reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The effects of cooling rates on the solidification microstructure and composition distribution of U-5.5Nb were investigated by using the developed model. The results show that with the increase of the cooling rate, the average grain size decreases and the Nb microsegregation increases.     

Numerical simulation of microstructure evolution on near eutectic spheroidal graphite cast iron

A multiphase cellular automaton model was developed to simulate microstructure evolution of near eutectic spheroidal graphite cast iron (SGI) during its solidification process, and both dendritic austenite and spheroidal graphite growth models were adopted. To deduce the mesh anisotropy of cellular automaton method, the composition averaging and geometrical parameter were introduced to simulate the spheroidal graphite growth. Solute balance method and decentered square algorithms were employed to simulate austenite dendrites growth with different crystallographic orientations. The simulated results indicate that the graphite nodule grows in a spherical morphology when the surrounding environment of a single graphite nodule is same. However, for two adjacent graphite nodules, the environment is different. The higher the carbon concentration, the faster the growth of graphite. By comparison with experimental results, it is found that the microstructure evolution of near eutectic spheroidal graphite cast iron during solidification process can be reproduced quantitatively by numerical simulation with this model.     

Cu-Cr合金初始凝固界面形态对组织形成的影响

依据定向凝固初始过渡区的溶质分布,探讨了Cu-1.0wt%Cr合金凝固界面形态对组织形成的影响.研究表明:亚共晶Cu-1.0wt%Cr合金初始非稳态定向凝固过程经历了平面状初生α相、完全(α+β)共晶组织以及枝晶状α相和共晶的混合组织的三个演变阶段.随着凝固速度的增加,初始过渡区内单相α的凝固长度减小;初始凝固平界面易在初始过渡区的单相α生长阶段发生失稳,并导致完全(α+β)共晶组织的凝固过程不会发生.理论分析得到的初始过渡区平界面失稳及组织演变的规律,与实验结果相吻合.     

大方坯轴承钢GCr15凝固传热数值模拟

以某钢厂断面尺寸为280 mm×320 mm大方坯轴承钢GCr15为研究对象,借助ProCAST软件,建立了二维大方坯凝固传热模型,研究了拉速、比水量、过热度等工艺参数对铸坯凝固过程的影响,同时通过对铸坯中心固相率的研究,确定了与末端电磁搅拌位置、轻压下区间相匹配的最优拉速。结果表明,拉速的变化对铸坯中心固相率、凝固终点位置的影响最大,比水量的影响较大,过热度的影响最小;拉速每增加0.1 m/min,凝固终点平均增加1.97 m,二冷比水量每增加0.1 L/Kg,凝固终点平均减小0.82 m,过热度每增加10 ℃,凝固终点平均增加0.27 m。最佳拉速为0.85 m/min,此拉速下末端电磁搅拌位置和轻压下区间与铸坯合理的中心固相率相匹配。     

有关连铸坯质量的几个问题

对连铸坯为何不能生产沸腾钢、减少高碳钢连铸小方坯中心偏析的两种相反的思维和优化的钢包渣进行了讨论。     

GCr15钢动态组织演化的实验研究与数值模拟

通过在Gleeble-3800热力模拟实验机上进行单道次压缩试验,分析了GCr15钢的动态组织演化特点。实验结果表明,变形试样组织分布不均匀;在一定应变速率下,温度升高,动态再结晶晶粒增大,且应变速率越高,增长趋势越慢;在一定温度下,升高应变率会使动态再结晶晶粒变小,但这种趋势在较高的温度下才比较敏感。通过回归分析,得到了GCr15的动态组织演化模型,将其耦合到MSC.Marc软件子程序中计算,模拟了应变、动态再结晶份数及平均晶粒尺寸分布。模拟的晶粒尺寸和测量晶粒尺寸吻合较好。     

钙处理对连铸钢浇铸性能的影响

分析钙处理对连铸钢浇铸性能的影响，为了改善浇铸性能，应向钢中加入适量的钙，形成液态的铝酸钙。钙处理不当时不仅影响钢水的浇铸性能，而且还会影响钢水在结晶器内的凝固行为。     

Effect of cooling condition on deformation of continuously cast stainless steel 304

This work investigated the effect of the cooling condition on the deformation that was found for continuously cast stainless steel 304 slabs. The transient heat-transfer finite element analysis under various cooling conditions yielded temperature distributions within the slab, which were then used for subsequent calculations of the deformed shape. The asymmetric cooling condition in a cooling pit induced non-uniform and asymmetric thermal gradients with elapsed time. The non-zero final deflection and the reversal of curvature for the slab during cooling were attributed to the combined effect of asymmetric temperature profile and inelastic material property. Parametric studies revealed that a slab material of a low thermal conductivity or yield strength resulted in an increase for final deflection. The present analysis explained the physical cause of the deformation reasonably well.     

Analysis of ductile cast iron solidification: numerical simulation and experimental validation

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental and numerical study of the solidification process of ductile cast iron under slightly hypereutectic conditions. The material thermo-microstructural behaviour is measured in tests performed using standardized cups. Cooling curves at the centre of the cup were recorded, and metallographic studies were carried out to investigate the number and size of graphite nodules at the end of the process. Different models were tested: a model based on a uninodular theory and two models which represent the multi-nodular theory. The cooling curves predicted by these models are in good agreement with the experimental measurements. Some scatter is found, however, in the numerical–experimental comparison for the graphite nodule density at different points of the sample.     

Simulation for microstructure evolution of Al-Si alloys in solidification process

The numerical simulation for microstructure evolution of Al-Si alloy in solidification process is carried out with phase field model. The phase field model, solution algorithm and the program of dendrite growth are introduced. The definition of initial condition, boundary condition and the stability condition of differential format are all included. The simulation results show that the evolution of dendrite morphology is as follows： the initial circle nucleus transforms to the rectangle one firstly, then its corners develop to the four trunks and from which the secondary side branches are generated and even the third side branches are produced from secondary ones. The dendrite tip radius decreases quickly at the initial stage and changes slowly at the late stage, which is mainly due to the fact that more and more side branches appear and grow up. The comparisons of dendrite morphology between simulated results and investigations by others are also presented. It is proved that the dendrite morphologies are similar in trunks and arms growth, so the developed phase field program is accurate.     

Solid solubility extension and microstructure evolution of cast zirconium yttrium alloy

Yttrium addition can improve the oxidation resistance,mitigate hydrogen embrittlement and thus enhance the mechanical properties of the zirconium alloy.To study solid solubility extension of yttrium in zirconium alloy,the lattice parameters of a-Zr phase in Zr–Y alloy were accurately determined by X-ray diffraction(XRD).Yttrium exhibits solid solubility extension in the cast zirconium alloy which forms a metastable supersaturated solid solution with solubility limit of around 3 wt%.The effect of yttrium and thermal treatment on the microstructure of the alloys was investigated by optical microscopy(OM)and scanning electron microscope(SEM).The cast Zr–Y alloy shows a normal polycrystalline structure with dispersed a-Y particles when Y content is lower than 4 wt%,while the alloy shows a eutectic structure with dendrites formation when the Y content is higher.Yttrium exhibits a strong grain refining effect on zirconium alloy and precipitates from the metastable supersaturated Zr matrix after annealing at 700 and 900 °C.     

相场法凝固组织模拟的研究进展

阐述了相场法是一种用于模拟凝固微观组织的有效方法 ,是目前国内外的研究热点 ;论述了相场法模拟凝固微观组织的原理和国内外的研究现状 ,并指出进一步研究的方向。