SIMULTANEOUS PRESSURE-VELOCITY COUPLING IN THE 2-PHASE ZONE FOR SOLIDIFICATION SHRINKAGE IN AN OPEN CAVITY

Binary constituent shrinkage-induced flows during alloy solidification are examined with a continuum mixture model. The multiphase conservat ion equations are solved with a control-volume-based finite-element me thod. Free surface flow capabilities and an elliptic grid transformati on scheme accommodate volumetric contraction due to the density differ ences between solid and liquid phases. The procedure treats the multip hase mass and momentum transport in an implicit manner with a direct v elocity-pressure coupling. Boundary conditions at the free surface acc ount for the gas pressure and external stresses. Numerical results for both one-dimensional and two-dimensional solidification problems are examined and compared with analytical and experimental results.