A 3-D coupled hydromechanical granular model for simulating the constitutive behavior of metallic alloys during solidification

A three-dimensional (3-D) coupled hydromechanical granular model has been developed and validated to directly predict, for the first time, hot tear formation and stress–strain behavior in metallic alloys during solidification. This granular model consists of four separate 3-D modules: (i) the solidification module is used to generate the solid–liquid geometry at a given solid fraction; (ii) the fluid flow module (FFM) is used to calculate the solidification shrinkage and deformation-induced pressure drop within the intergranular liquid; (iii) the semi-solid deformation module (SDM) simulates the rheological behavior of the granular structure; and (iv) the failure module (FM) simulates crack initiation and propagation. Since solid deformation, intergranular flow and crack initiation are deeply linked together, the FFM, SDM and FM are coupled processes. This has been achieved through the development of a new three-phase interactive technique that couples the interaction between intergranular liquid, solid grains and growing voids. The results show that the pressure drop, and consequently hot tear formation, depends also on the compressibility of the mushy zone skeleton, in addition to the well-known contributors (lack of liquid feeding and semi-solid deformation).     

Three-dimensional granular model of semi-solid metallic alloys undergoing solidification: Fluid flow and localization of feeding

A three-dimensional (3-D) granular model which simulates fluid flow within solidifying alloys with a globular microstructure, such as that found in grain refined Al alloys, is presented. The model geometry within a representative volume element (RVE) consists of a set of prismatic triangular elements representing the intergranular liquid channels. The pressure field within the liquid channels is calculated using a finite elements (FEs) method assuming a Poiseuille flow within each channel and flow conservation at triple lines. The fluid flow is induced by solidification shrinkage and openings at grain boundaries due to deformation of the coherent solid. The granular model predictions are validated against bulk data calculated with averaging techniques. The results show that a fluid flow simulation of globular semi-solid materials is able to reproduce both a map of the 3-D intergranular pressure and the localization of feeding within the mushy zone. A new hot cracking sensitivity coefficient is then proposed. Based on a mass balance performed over a solidifying isothermal volume element, this coefficient accounts for tensile deformation of the semi-solid domain and for the induced intergranular liquid feeding. The fluid flow model is then used to calculate the pressure drop in the mushy zone during the direct chill casting of aluminum alloy billets. The predicted pressure demonstrates that deep in the mushy zone where the permeability is low the local pressure can be significantly lower than the pressure predicted by averaging techniques.     

Hot tearing studies in AA5182

One of the major problems during direct chill (DC) casting is hot tearing. These tears initiate during solidification of the alloy and may run through the entire ingot. To study the hot tearing mechanism, tensile tests were carried out in semisolid state and at low strain rates, and crack propagation was studied in situ by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These experimentally induced cracks were compared with hot tears developed in an AA5182 ingot during a casting trial in an industrial research facility. Similarities in the microstructure of the tensile test specimens and the hot tears indicate that hot tearing can be simulated by performing tensile tests at semisolid temperatures. The experimental data were compared with existing hot tearing models and it was concluded that the latter are restricted to relatively high liquid fractions because they do not take into account the existence of solid bridges in the crack.     

Prediction of Hot Tearing Using a Dimensionless Niyama Criterion

The dimensionless form of the well-known Niyama criterion is extended to include the effect of applied strain. Under applied tensile strain, the pressure drop in the mushy zone is enhanced and pores grow beyond typical shrinkage porosity without deformation. This porosity growth can be expected to align perpendicular to the applied strain and to contribute to hot tearing. A model to capture this coupled effect of solidification shrinkage and applied strain on the mushy zone is derived. The dimensionless Niyama criterion can be used to determine the critical liquid fraction value below which porosity forms. This critical value is a function of alloy properties, solidification conditions, and strain rate. Once a dimensionless Niyama criterion value is obtained from thermal and mechanical simulation results, the corresponding shrinkage and deformation pore volume fractions can be calculated. The novelty of the proposed method lies in using the critical liquid fraction at the critical pressure drop within the mushy zone to determine the onset of hot tearing. The magnitude of pore growth due to shrinkage and deformation is plotted as a function of the dimensionless Niyama criterion for an Al-Cu alloy as an example. Furthermore, a typical hot tear “lambda”-shaped curve showing deformation pore volume as a function of alloy content is produced for two Niyama criterion values.     

Design and application of a multichannel “cross” hot tearing tendency device: A study on hot tearing tendency of Al alloys

Hot tearing is one of the most serious defects during the casting solidification process. In this study, a new type of multichannel “cross” hot tearing device was designed. The hot cracks initiation and propagation were predicted by the relationship between temperature, shrinkage force and solidification time during the casting solidification process. The reliability and practicability of the multichannel “cross” hot tearing device were verified by casting experiments and numerical simulations. The theoretical calculation based on Clyne-Davies model and numerical simulation results show that the hot tearing tendency decreases in the order: 2024 Al alloy>Al-Cu alloy>Al-Si alloy at a pouring temperature of 670 °C and a mold temperature of 25 °C. Feeding of liquid films at the end of solidification plays an important role in the propagation process of hot tearing. The decrease of hot tearing tendency is attributed to the feeding of liquid film and intergranular bridging.

     

Effects of cooling rates on microporosity in DC casting Al-Li alloy

During the direct chill(DC)casting process,primary cooling from the mold and bottom block,and secondary cooling from the waterjets produce a concave solid shell.The depth of this liquid pocket and mushy zone not only depends on the solidification range of the alloy but also the boundary conditions such as cooling rates.Al-Li alloys solidify in a long solidification range increasing the susceptibility of porosity nucleation in the semi-solid region.In this study,the effects of cooling rate on the porosity formation were quantified for the large ingot casting using X-ray computed tomography(XCT).By characterizing pore size distributions at four different cooling conditions,the correlation between the mechanical properties at both room and high temperatures and the microstructure features was identified.The constitutive equations were constructed.It is found that increasing the cooling rate reduces the grain size,increases the number density of micropores,and minimizes the number of large pores,thereby improving the mechanical performance.Therefore,long mushy zones and deep liquid pockets in Al-Li alloys can be effectively controlled by controlling the boundary conditions of the DC casting solidification process,thereby obtaining castings with excellent mechanical properties.     

球铁升降机铸件铸造工艺计算机模拟优化设计

通过对用湿砂型生产的球铁升降机铸件凝固组织和固相转变的模拟,预测了其凝固过程、组织和性能情况,并通过计算机模拟对原工艺方案进行了优化。新工艺只有一个内浇道、两个发热冒口,并且没有采用冷铁,生产出的铸件没有缩孔、缩松和夹渣缺陷,工艺出品率也从最初的50%提高到了65%。     

Comparison of mechanical properties of die cast aluminium alloys: cold v. hot chamber die casting and high v. low speed filling die casting

Abstract

In this paper, the mechanical properties of die cast aluminium alloys made by various die casting technologies were examined. To create high quality aluminium alloy die castings, two die casting processing technologies were employed. These were (a) ultra slow speed filling cold chamber die casting and (b) high speed hot chamber die casting. Significant improvements of the fatigue and mechanical properties were obtained for both die casting systems compared to the normal high speed cold chamber die casting technique. By comparing ultra slow die casting with hot chamber die casting, it was found that the fatigue and mechanical strengths from hot chamber die casting were higher than those for ultra slow filling die casting. The differences in material strength were attributed directly to the material properties, e.g. microstructural morphology and internal defects. Spherical fine dendritic cells in the hot chamber die casting sample gave rise to high fatigue crack growth resistance; the low crack growth resistance for cold chamber die cast aluminium is mostly due to the growth of aluminium rich α phase and the presence of eutectic silicon fibres. The fatigue strength was also related to the number of internal defects, e.g. the lower the defect rate on the fracture surface, the higher the fatigue resistance and mechanical strength. The characteristics of the principal internal defect were different depending on the die casting technology: this showed fine porosity for hot chamber die casting but solidification shrinkage and the scattered chill structure for slow and high speed cold chamber die castings. The reasons for the change of material strength were therefore influenced by the die casting process.     

门框底衬铸钢件的铸造工艺设计及数值模拟

运用传统方法设计了门框底衬铸钢件的铸造工艺:包括分型面、浇注位置的选择、铸造工艺参数的确定以及浇注系统、冒口、冷铁的设计.根据铸件形状较复杂的特点,设计了两个内浇道;将铸件划分为4个补缩区域进行补缩,并配合冷铁来实现铸件的顺序凝固.用Pro/E软件建立了铸件的三维模型,采用ViewCast铸造模拟软件对铸件的凝固过程进行了模拟计算.模拟结果显示,在门框底衬凸台处会产生缩孔、缩松缺陷.根据数值模拟结果并结合理论分析,对铸造工艺方案进行了优化.通过改进工艺,最大程度地消除了铸造缺陷,从而获得了合理的铸造工艺方案.     

The Prediction of Shrinkage Cavities in Cast-Steel Rolls

Abstract

A 2D finite difference program has been written which enables the progress of solidification to be predicted in cylindrical castings with geometries typical of cast-steel rolls. A simple method for predicting the formation of gross shrinkage cavities has been introduced into the program, which assumes that liquid metal flow is instantaneous in regions where the solid fraction is below some critical value and feeding through regions above the critical value is not possible. Using metal/mould heat transfer coefficients determined previously for a variety of mould surface conditions (bare chill, coated chill, sand-lined chill), the computer model has been validated experimentally in terms of solidification times, position and shape of cavities and regions of porosity for a number of geometrical arrangements with different mould surfaces.     

灰铁轴承衬体铸造工艺模拟与优化

利用ViewCast软件对灰铁轴承衬体充型和凝固过程进行了分析,通过凝固过程金属分布模拟了缩孔(松)产生的位置。采用挂砂外冷铁配合冒口使用对原方案进行了优化,最终消除了铸件中的缩孔(松)缺陷。再次模拟结果表明,改进方案合理可行,实现了平稳逐层充型和顺序凝固,从而有效地改善了铸件质量。     

大平板类铝合金壳体铸件铸造工艺优化与设计

针对大平板类铝合金壳体铸件的外形尺寸大、结构复杂等特点，通过三维温度场数值模拟来揭示铸件的凝固过程。根据准固态力学行为和流变行为，进行应力场模拟，进而预测铸件在凝固过程中产生缩松、缩孔以及热裂和变形等倾向，合理地实现了铸件的铸造工艺优化设计。     

宽板坯轻压下区固液相凝固收缩模型的研究

根据铸坯坯壳凝固线收缩量与温度变化的关系及两相区固-液相的物质守恒规律,建立了宽板坯固液相凝固收缩模型,利用连铸宽板坯实际生产工艺条件,分析了拉坯速度、浇注温度等因素对铸坯凝固前沿补缩量的影响规律.研究结果表明,同一拉速、浇注温度条件下,铸坯凝固前沿所需补缩量随距弯月面距离的增加而逐渐减小;冷却条件相同,拉速及浇注温度对铸坯凝固前沿所需总补缩量的影响很小;凝固坯壳对减小轻压下作用于凝固前沿压下量的贡献量约为17.2%.     

水压机下横梁铸造工艺模拟分析

采用三维绘图软件绘制了水压机下横梁的实体模型,并设计和制定了其浇注系统及工艺参数.运用ProCAST软件对铸件及其浇冒系统进行有限元网格划分,并模拟分析了充型和凝固过程,结合铸件不同位置的温度与时间曲线分析表明,浇冒系统能实现金属液的平稳充型、铸件的顺序凝固与补缩.铸件的超声和磁粉等无损检验结果表明,工艺方案设计合理,铸件没有缩孔、缩松和表面气孔、夹杂等缺陷.     

不锈钢焊接凝固裂纹应力应变场数值模拟模型的建立

依据焊接过程的特点,本文把焊接构件分成熔池液相区,固液共存区和固相区三个区域,为了建立焊接凝固裂纹驱动力数值模拟模型,本文详细分析了这三个区域的力学行为,在实测了液态金属的凝固速率和固液态金属的加载卸载响应曲线的基础上着重研究了熔池的变形、固液共存区金属的流变性能和凝固收缩对熔池尾部应力,应变演变过程的影响。最后,采用单元死活的方法解决了熔池的变形问题,采用热、弹、塑性力学方法处理了固相区的应力,     

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF STRESS-STRAIN DISTRIBUTIONS FOR WELD METAL SOLIDIFICATION CRACKING IN STAINLESS STEEL

1.ItisknownthatweldsolidificationcrackingresultsfromthecompetitionbetweentheInaterialresistancetOcrackingandthemechAncaldrivingforceinthecon-rseofsolidificationOfweldmetal['--sJ.Essentially,weldmetalsolidificationcrackoccurswhenthemechanicaldrivingforceexceedsthematerialresistance.ThedrivingforceisthemechanicaltensilestainthatisdevelOPedinthetrailOfaweldPOolduetOweldmetalsolidificationshrinkage,thennalcontractionoftheparentmetalandtheexternalrestraintoftheweldedstructure.HoWever,analyzing…     

Prediction of hot tearing susceptibility of direct chill casting of AA6111 alloys via finite element simulations

To predict hot tearing susceptibility (HTS) during solidification and improve the quality of Al alloy castings, constitutive equations for AA6111 alloys were developed using a direct finite element (FE) method. A hot tearing model was established for direct chill (DC) casting of industrial AA6111 alloys via coupling FE model and hot tearing criterion. By applying this model to real manufacture processes, the effects of casting speed, bottom cooling, secondary cooling, and geometric variations on the HTS were revealed. The results show that the HTS of the billet increases as the speed and billet radius increase, while it reduces as the interfacial heat transfer coefficient at the bottom or secondary water-cooling rate increases. This model shows the capabilities of incorporating maximum pore fraction in simulating hot tearing initiation, which will have a significant impact on optimizing casting conditions and chemistry for minimizing HTS and thus controlling the casting quality.     

均衡凝固技术在精密铸造阀瓣类铸件上的应用

采取均衡凝固理论设计的浇冒口,冒口既靠近热节又不在热节上,消除了冒口根部接触热节对铸件几何热节的影响,热冒口的模数可小于或等于铸件几何热节模数;同时控制浇注温度,减小钢液的液态收缩量;上述措施有效消除了精密铸造阀瓣类铸件的缩松缺陷,同时提高了工艺出品率。     

铸钢后桥V法铸造数值模拟及工艺优化

运用ViewCast模拟软件对某铸钢汽车后桥V法铸造的凝固过程进行了数值模拟,预测了原工艺方案所产生缩孔、缩松缺陷的位置和大小。根据模拟结果,对原工艺方案进行了改进,增设横浇道和冷铁,铸件实现了顺序凝固,消除了缩孔、缩松缺陷,从而获得了合理的铸造工艺方案并通过工厂的生产验证。     

GH2132高温合金熔敷金属结晶裂纹敏感性

针对GH2132高温合金熔敷金属热裂纹敏感性问题,通过采用试制焊丝、熔敷金属焊接试验、组织及断口分析、凝固计算等手段对熔敷金属组织、凝固行为、开裂机制等进行了研究. 结果表明,试验熔敷金属金相组织主要由柱状树枝晶γ相(NiCrFe固溶体)、枝晶间富Ti的Laves相(Cr,Fe,Ni)₂ (Ti,Mo)、MC碳化物与共晶组织组成,凝固路径为L→L + γ→L + γ + MC→L + γ + MC + Laves→γ + MC + Laves,裂纹断口呈典型的鹅卵石共晶花样,整个断口形貌被呈自由表面的液膜所覆盖,属于发生在高温段的结晶裂纹. 结晶裂纹开裂机理为在凝固过程的终了阶段,发生了L→γ + Laves的低熔点共晶反应,在凝固收缩应力作用下,残余液相未及时补充而形成. Laves相的形成主要与凝固过程中Ti元素的偏析有关,理论计算结果表明,GH2132结晶裂纹指数(solidification cracking index, SCI)值为1944 ℃,(solidification temperature range, STR)为258 ℃,在结晶裂纹敏感性评价方面,相比STR,SCI指标能相对更为合理地实现结晶裂纹敏感性的量化评价,但仍存在考虑因素不全等问题.