Meniscus Solidification, Oscillation Marks, and Depression Formation

B.G. Thomas, HoJung Shin, J. Sengupta, Gogi Lee, Y. Meng, & Seon-hyo Kim

Continuous Casting Consortium and Postech, Korea

The first few seconds of solidification at the meniscus create the final cast product surface, and may include defects such as deep oscillation marks and depressions if conditions are not optimal. A coupled, two-dimensional, transient finite-element model of temperature, shrinkage, and stress development in a vertical section through the solidifying shell is applied to simulate these phenomena. The effects of flux channel pressure, level fluctuations, and steel grade are incorporated. The model will be applied to help optimize mold oscillation practice and design of mold powders to minimize defects.

(click for a full-sized picture)

Publications:

Shin, H.J., BG Thomas, SH Kim, L. Zhang, & Y. Meng, "Meniscus Hook Formation in Continuous Cast Slabs", Report to Postech/Posco, January, 2004.

Shin, H.-J., G.G. Lee, W.Y. Choi, S.M. Kang, J.H. Park, S.H. Kim and B.G. Thomas, "Effect of Mold Oscillation on Powder Consumption and Hook Formation in Ultra Low Carbon Steel Slabs", AISTech 2004, Nashville, TN, Sept. 15-17, 2004, Assoc. Iron Steel Technology, Warrendale, PA, pp. 1157-70. Click here for a PDF version. (314 KB)

Shin, H.-J., B.G. Thomas, G.G. Lee, J.M. Park, C.H. Lee and S.H. Kim, "Analysis of Hook Formation Mechanism in Ultra Low Carbon Steel using CON1D Heat Flow - Solidification Model," Materials Science & Technology 2004, (New Orleans, LA, Sept. 26-29, 2004), TMS, Warrendale, PA, Vol. II, 2004, 11-26.

Shin, H.-J., B.G. Thomas, G.G. Lee, J.M. Park, C.H. Lee, and S.H. Kim, "Analysis of Hook Formation Mechanism in Ultra Low Carbon Steel using CON1D Heat Flow - Solidification Model", Materials Science & Technology (MS&T) 2004, Sep. 26-29, 2004, New Orleans, LA, Vol. II, pp. 11-26. Click here for a PDF version. (621 KB)

Kim, S.H., H.J. Shin, G. Lee, B.G. Thomas, L. Zhang, & J. Sengupta, "Study of hook formation and initial solidification - Effect of operation variables", POSCO Report No. 20048021, Pohang, S. Korea, Dec. 31, 2004.

Shin, H.-J., G.G. Lee, W.Y. Choi, S.M. Kang, J.H. Park, S.H. Kim and B.G. Thomas, "Effect of Mold Oscillation on Powder Consumption and Hook Formation in Ultra Low Carbon Steel Slabs," Iron & Steel Technology, Vol. 2 (9),2005, 56-69.

B.G. Thomas, J. Sengupta, Y. Meng, and H. Zhu, “Thermal Distortion of Solidifying Shell Near Meniscus in Continuous Casting of Steel,” Metallurgical & Materials Transactions, 2006, originally presented at Fall TMS meeting, Chicago, IL, 2003.

Sengupta, J., H.-J. Shin, B. G. Thomas, and S.-H. Kim, “Micrograph Evidence of Meniscus Solidification and Sub-Surface Microstructure Evolution in Continuous-Cast Ultra-Low Carbon Steels”, Acta Materialia, Vol. 54, No. 4, February 2006, pp. 1165-1173. Click here for a PDF version. (1.1 MB)

Sengupta, J., B.G. Thomas, H.J. Shin, G.G. Lee, and S.H. Kim, “Mechanism of Hook Formation during Continuous Casting of Ultra-low Carbon Steel Slabs”, Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A, Vol. 37A, No. 5, (May), 2006, pp. 1597-1611. Click here for a PDF version. (1.2 MB)

Shin, Ho-Jung, S. H. Kim, B.G. Thomas, G.G. Lee, J. M. Park, and J. Sengupta, “Measurement and Prediction of Lubrication, Powder Consumption, and Oscillation Mark Profiles in Ultra-low Carbon Steel Slabs”, ISIJ International, Vol. 46, No. 11, 2006, pp. 1635-1644. Click here for a PDF version. (1.1 MB)

Sengupta, J., B.G. Thomas, H.J. Shin, and S.H. Kim, “Mechanism of Hook Formation in Ultra-low Carbon Steels based on Microscopy Analysis and Thermal-stress Modeling”, AISTech 2006 Steelmaking Conference Proc., (May 1-4, Cleveland, OH), AIST, Warrendale, PA, Vol. 1, 2006, pp. 903-914. Click here for a PDF version. (1.4 MB)

Ho-Jung Shin, “Study of subsurface hook formation and initial solidification in continuous-cast ultra-low carbon steel slabs”, PhD Thesis, Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech), Pohang, S. Korea, Mat Sci & Eng. Dept., 2006.

Go-Gi Lee, Ho-Jung Shin, B.G. Thomas, Seon-Hyo Kim, Dong-Su Kim, and Sung-Jong Yu, “Three-dimensional Microstructure of Frozen Meniscus and Hook in Continuous-cast Ultra-low-carbon Steel Slabs”, AISTech 2007, Steelmaking Conference Proc., (May 7-10, Indianapolis, IN), AIST, Warrendale, PA, Vol. 1, submitted Feb. 15, 2007.

Go-Gi Lee, B.G. Thomas, Ho-Jung Shin, Seung-Kwan Baek, Choon-Haeng Choi, Dong-Su Kim, Sung-Jong Yu, S-H Kim, “Microstructure near corners of continuous-cast steel slabs showing three-dimensional frozen meniscus and hooks”, Acta Materiali, revised, June, 2007.