Numerical Simulation of Effect of Thermo-solutal Flow on Macrosegregation in Continuously Cast Slabs

Abstract

Effect of thermo-solutal convection on the macrosegregation in continuously cast slabs was investigated by numerical simulation using a finite-volume scheme. The thermo-solutal convection and solidification shrinkage induced flow was considered in the numerical model. The thermos-solutal flow induced the vortex flow during the solidification. The solute-rich liquid was washed out from the mushy zone by the vortex flow and the V-shaped segregation pattern was formed. The solidification shrinkage induced flow from top side to bottom side was dominant at the last stage of the solidification. However, the segregation pattern induced by this flow could not be calculated by well accuracy because of the grid size and convergence error.