Use of Numerical Simulations During Cont

This paper describes numerical modeling of round billets solidification process during continuous steel casting. Emphasis is placed not only on the mathematical nature of transmission events that affect the casting billet, such as heat conduction, convection, and radiation, but also on the methods of solving thermal problems including analytical and numerical approaches. The numerical methods, particularly the finite element method and the method of networks, are discussed in detail, as they form the core of the most commonly used simulation software for modeling temperature fields in various technological processes. In the research, a sophisticated software program named Tefis was developed, which solves the temperature field problems using an explicit numerical method of networks. The actual solution is implemented using the Fourier-Kirchhoff equation in its differential form, which factors in the velocity of solidified billets. Using the Tefis software, a series of computer simulations and sensitivity analysis were performed to examine the effects of varying levels of steel in a mold, different casting velocities, temperatures above the liquidus temperature, and secondary cooling intensity on the temperature fields of continuously cast billets. The calculated temperature fields for specified steel grades were subsequently compared with experimental measurements from real casting machines.