Material evaluation and thermal stress analysis of side dam for twin roll type strip caster

This paper discusses the strip easter's side dam. Material evaluation and t hermal stress analysis of side dam were carried out to get longer duration of side dam. At first, refractory of side dam was evaluated. Three kinds of refractory were dipped into molten stainless steel and were observed. Also ceramic component of side dam and crack distribution observed on refractor y were checked after 10-ton castings. Thermal analysis and thermal stress analysis of side dam were carried out t o estimate the cause of this side dam cracking. Side dam was preheated from front side and back side before casting to reduce thermal stress caused by the touch of molten steel on the side dam surface and to prevent the growt h of solidified shell on it. Temperature and thermal stress of side dam dur ing preheating before casting were evaluated and adequate preheating way fo r preventing cracking was checked and the positions estimated at high stres s were compared with the results after 10 ton casting side dam. It is possi ble to explain the cause of side dam cracking by the results of thermal str ess analysis and to reduce these thermal stress cracking by adopting adequa te preheating way of side dam.