COMPUTER-PREDICTION OF LOCATION OF HEAT CENTERS IN CASTINGS

Computer software, to aid the feeding of metal castings by identifying relative rates of solidification, has been developed. The algorithms within the software are based on the traditional modulus concept but h ave been refined so that detailed information on relative cooling rate s in any chosen section within a cast shape may be obtained. The softw are has been validated by referring its output to well known cases and to aluminium castings of three different shapes. The major shrinkage cavities in the castings were found to be in the positions predicted u sing the software. (C) 1993 The Institute of Materials.