Finite element numerical simulation for influence of mold taper on thermomechanical behavior of steel billet in continuous casting process

The thermomechanical behavior of the thin, growing shell during the early s tages of solidification in the continuous casting mold is very important to the ultimate quality of the final billet. A two-dimensional, transient fin ite element model has been developed to treat the heat flow and deformation of solidifying shell in the continuous casting billet mold as coupled phen omena. The major application of the model is to predict the extent of the g ap between the mold and the shell, and focus on the influence of mold taper on the thermomechanical behavior of the steel billet to help understand th e formation of off-corner cracks and breakouts in the solidifying shell. Th e calculations indicate that the gap is initially formed at the corner of t he billet, where heat transfer is greatly reduced. Insufficient mold taper contributes to a hot spot in the off-corner region, which corresponds to th e thinnest shell thickness. Meanwhile, the solidifying front along the diag onal of the billet is subjected to an excessive mechanical strain, which ca uses the off-corner cracks and even the breakouts.