Distortion and Cracking of Thin-Slab Continuous-Casting Molds

B.G. Thomas, J.K. Park, U.S. Yoon

Continuous Casting Consortium, University of British Columbia

Thermal distortion of the mold during casting is important to mold life, since it induces permanent distortion and sometimes fatigue cracks.  This phenomenon is particularly important in thin-slab molds, owing to their higher heat loads.  By affecting the internal geometry of the mold cavity, it is also important to heat transfer to the solidifying shell, so affects ideal mold taper, especially of the narrow face.  To study thermal distortion of the mold, a three-dimensional, finite-element model has been developed using ABAQUS.  It has been applied to provide boundary conditions for other models and is also being used to design molds with potentially longer life.

Publications:
Park, Joong-Kil, Thomas, B.G., Samarasekera, I.V., and Yoon, U.S., “Thermal and Mechanical Behavior of Copper Moulds During Thin Slab Casting (I): Plant Trial and Mathematical Modelling", Metall. Mater. Trans. B, Vol. 33B, June, 2002, pp. 425-436. Click here for a PDF version. (1.61 MB)

Yoon, U.-S., J.-K. Park, B.G. Thomas, and I.V. Samarasekera, "Mold Crack Formation of the Funnel Shaped Mold During Thin Slab Casting", 85th Steelmaking Conference Proceedings, (March 10-13, 2002, Nashville, TN), ISS-AIME, Warrendale, PA, 2002, pp. 245-257. Click here for a PDF version. (1.24 MB)

Park, Joong-Kil, I.V. Samarasekera, B.G. Thomas, and U-Sok Yoon, "Analysis of Thermal and Mechanical Behavior of Copper Mould During Thin Slab Casting", 83rd Steelmaking Conference Proceedings, (Pittsburgh, PA, March 26-29, 2000), Vol. 83, Iron and Steel Society, Warrendale, PA, 2000, pp. 9-21. Click here for a PDF version. (129 KB)

Park, Joong-Kil, Thomas, B.G., Samarasekera, I.V., and Yoon, U.S., "Thermal and Mechanical Behavior of Copper Moulds During Thin Slab Casting (II): Mould Crack Formation", Metall. Mater. Trans. B, Vol. 33B, June, 2002, pp. 437-449. Click here for a PDF version. (5.00 MB)