Simulation for Progress of Solid-Liquid Coexisting Zone in Continuous Casting of Carbon Steels

Abstract

The solid-liquid coexisting zone of a solidifying alloy was classified into three zones of q₂, q₁ and p by the fluidity of the interdendritic liquid. In the q₂ zone, primary crystals and liquid can flow concurrently, whereas in the q₁ zone only the interdendritic liquid can flow between the dendrites, and in the p zone the liquid is entrapped by the solids and cannot flow.
In the present study, the progress of solid-liquid coexisting zones in continuous casting of carbon steels was investigated by numerical computation. Two dimensional heat transfer in a bloom continuous casting having 400 mm × 400 mm cross section was calculated by using finite difference method. The effect of electromagnetic stirring on the extent of the solid-liquid coexisting zones was estimated by considering effective thermal conductivity in the liquid, q₂ and q₁ zones. Results obtained were considered to be effective for predicting the location of segregations, extent of equiaxed crystal zone and optimum timing for soft reduction technique in continuous casting process.