Abstract
Flow of molten aluminum, mercury and water was observed through a pyrex glass or acrylic plate on one face of a plate-like cavity having a gate at the center of the bottom. Flow behavior in a cavity with narrow branches was also examined. The fluid was pushed up by nitrogen gas pressure. Although symmetrical flow was observed in the case of water and mercury, molten aluminum flowed to one side at first and then turned to the other. Numerical simulation showed that filling behavior of molten aluminum became asymmetry when contact angles larger than a critical value were used. It was shown that numerical calculation considering surface tension and contact angle is necessary to simulate the filling with lower velocities or in narrow cavities.
