FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF LIQUID EJECTION IN CONTINUOUSLY CAST SLAB BY SEQUENTIAL FORGING

Since segregation occurs at the central part of the continuously cast slab, it is desirable to eject the liquid in the centre during solidif ication by sequential forging. The deformation behaviour of continuous ly cast slab during forging is simulated by the finite element method. A model experiment using paraffin wax is also carried out to compare with the theoretical result. The model experiment shows that the liqui d may be trapped in the slab during the successive forging process, de pending on the striking interval, even when the reduction in thickness is larger than the initial thickness of the liquid part. The calculat ed profile of the interface between the solid and the liquid parts is wavier and the solid part is deformed more as the striking interval in creases. The calculated maximum thickness of the liquid part after for ging agrees qualitatively well with the experimental one. The predicte d maximum striking interval without liquid trapping in the forging pro cess agrees well with the experimental one. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.