1998 Volume 38 Issue 1 Pages 53-62
Using a 2-dimensional coupled thermo-elasto-plastic finite element model, the thermo-mechanical behaviours of the strand and mold were analyzed. The calculated geometry and temperature distributions of the solidifying shell and mold were compared with experimental observations. The calculated geometry around corner region was in good agreement with experimental observations. The mold wear was analyzed by a new dimensionless parameter of "Apparent Wear Parameter" which is inversely proportional to yield stress of the mold at service temperature and directly proportional to the interfacial pressure between the strand and mold. The effects of narrow face taper and carbon concentration of cast steel on mold wear were analyzed using the apparent wear parameter. With increasing narrow face taper, the possibility of mold wear increased due to increasing interfacial pressure. With increasing carbon concentration, the width of worn region of 35 mm at 0.05 and 0.1 wt% C steels decreased to 15 mm of 0.2 wt% C steel due to uniform thermal contraction of 0.2 wt% C steel during solidification. The calculated behaviours of mold wear were compared with used mold in industrial operation. The calculated worn region of mold based on the apparent wear parameter were in good agreement with industrial observations.
