Purpose–The precast concrete slab track(PST)has advantages of fewer maintenance frequencies,better smooth rides and structural stability,which has been widely applied in urban rail transit.Precise positioning of prec...Purpose–The precast concrete slab track(PST)has advantages of fewer maintenance frequencies,better smooth rides and structural stability,which has been widely applied in urban rail transit.Precise positioning of precast concrete slab(PCS)is vital for keeping the initial track regularity.However,the cast-in-place process of the self-compacting concrete(SCC)filling layer generally causes a large deformation of PCS due to the water-hammer effect of flowing SCC,even cracking of PCS.Currently,the buoyancy characteristic and influencing factors of PCS during the SCC casting process have not been thoroughly studied in urban rail transit.Design/methodology/approach–In this work,a Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)model is established to calculate the buoyancy of PCS caused by the flowing SCC.The main influencing factors,including the inlet speed and flowability of SCC,have been analyzed and discussed.A new structural optimization scheme has been proposed for PST to reduce the buoyancy caused by the flowing SCC.Findings–The simulation and field test results showed that the buoyancy and deformation of PCS decreased obviously after adopting the new scheme.Originality/value–The findings of this study can provide guidance for the control of the deformation of PCS during the SCC construction process.展开更多
In the foundry industries,process design has traditionally relied on manuals and complex theoretical calculations.With the advent of 3D design in casting,computer-aided design(CAD)has been applied to integrate the fea...In the foundry industries,process design has traditionally relied on manuals and complex theoretical calculations.With the advent of 3D design in casting,computer-aided design(CAD)has been applied to integrate the features of casting process,thereby expanding the scope of design options.These technologies use parametric model design techniques for rapid component creation and use databases to access standard process parameters and design specifications.However,3D models are currently still created through inputting or calling parameters,which requires numerous verifications through calculations to ensure the design rationality.This process may be significantly slowed down due to repetitive modifications and extended design time.As a result,there are increasingly urgent demands for a real-time verification mechanism to address this issue.Therefore,this study proposed a novel closed-loop model and software development method that integrated contextual design with real-time verification,dynamically verifying relevant rules for designing 3D casting components.Additionally,the study analyzed three typical closed-loop scenarios of agile design in an independent developed intelligent casting process system.It is believed that foundry industries can potentially benefit from favorably reduced design cycles to yield an enhanced competitive product market.展开更多
The modified precipitation theory was employed to directly predict the multi-variantε-carbide precipitation from thermodynamics and growing and ripening kinetics.Three distinct variants were identified:Variants 1 and...The modified precipitation theory was employed to directly predict the multi-variantε-carbide precipitation from thermodynamics and growing and ripening kinetics.Three distinct variants were identified:Variants 1 and 2 were the perpendicular plate-likeε-carbides,while the granularε-carbides were Variant 3.The particle sizes of Variants 1 and 2 were usually larger than those of Variant 3.The mean aspect ratios of Variants 1 and 2 were 4.96,4.62 and 4.35 larger than those(1.72,1.63 and 1.56)for the granularε-carbides when coiled at 140,200 and 250℃,respectively.Thermodynamic analysis indicated that Variants 1 and 2 are easier to nucleate than Variant 3.The growing kinetic analysis implied that the relative nucleation time and precipitation time for Variants 1 and 2 were about 8 and 5 orders of magnitude less than those for Variant 3,respectively.The ripening kinetics further displayed that the ripening rate was similar for Variants 1,2 and 3.In addition,the dislocation density has weak influence onε-carbide nucleation.These findings suggest that the precipitation thermodynamic and kinetic models could be extended to second phase precipitation in other materials systems.Besides,nano-scaleε-carbides,fine block size and nano-twins,as well as medium-density dislocations,jointly caused the optimal match between strength and total elongation when coiled at 140℃.展开更多
Casting technology is a fundamental and irreplaceable method in advanced manufacturing.The design and optimization of casting processes are crucial for producing high-performance,complex metal components.Transitioning...Casting technology is a fundamental and irreplaceable method in advanced manufacturing.The design and optimization of casting processes are crucial for producing high-performance,complex metal components.Transitioning from traditional process design based on"experience+experiment"to an integrated,intelligent approach is essential for achieving precise control over microstructure and properties.This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of intelligent casting process design and optimization for the first time.First,it explores process design methods based on casting simulation and integrated computational materials engineering(ICME).It then examines the application of machine learning(ML)in process design,highlighting its efficiency and existing challenges,along with the development of integrated intelligent design platforms.Finally,future research directions are discussed to drive further advancements and sustainable development in intelligent casting design and optimization.展开更多
A new process for swirling flow generation in the submerged entry nozzle （SEN） in continuous casting process of steel was proposed. A rotating electromagnetic field was set up around the SEN to induce swirling flow ...A new process for swirling flow generation in the submerged entry nozzle （SEN） in continuous casting process of steel was proposed. A rotating electromagnetic field was set up around the SEN to induce swirling flow by Lorentz force. The flow and temperature fields in the SEN and round billet mold with electromagnetic swirling were numerically simulated and then verified by the electromagnetic swirling model experiment of low melting point alloy. The effects of divergent angle of the SEN on the flow and temperature fields in mold with electromagnetic swirling were investigated. The electromagnetic swirling flow generator （EMSFG） could effectively induce swirling flow of molten steel in the SEN, which consequently improved greatly the flow and temperature fields in the mold. Below the nozzle outlet in mold, with the increase of divergent angle, the stream of bulk flow diverged more widely, the high temperature zone shifted up, and the temperature field became more uniform. Above the nozzle outlet in mold, with 350 A electromagnetic swirling, when the divergent angle of the SEN increased, the upward flow velocity and the meniscus temperature first increased and then decreased. With a divergent angle of 60~, the upward flow velocity and meniscus temperature reaced the largest value.展开更多
A 3-D mathematical model considering turbulence phenomena has been established based on a computational fluid dynamics technique, so called 3-D SOLA-VOF (Solution Algorithm-Volume of Fluid), to simulate the fluid flow...A 3-D mathematical model considering turbulence phenomena has been established based on a computational fluid dynamics technique, so called 3-D SOLA-VOF (Solution Algorithm-Volume of Fluid), to simulate the fluid flow of mold filling process of die casting. In addition, the mathematical model for simulating the heat transfer in die casting process has also been established. The computation program has been developed by the authors with the finite difference method (FDM) recently. As verification, the mold filling process of a S-shaped die casting has been simulated and the simulation results coincide with that of the benchmark test. Finally, as a practical application, the gating design of a motorcycle component was modified by the mold filling simulation and the dies design of another motorcycle component was optimized by the heat transfer simulation. All the optimized designs were verified by the production practice.展开更多
Near-liquidus cast ingot was reheated to semi-solid firstly, and then a bracket of motor was prepared by die casting the semi-solid ingot into mould. The microstructural characteristics of AZ91D alloy in these process...Near-liquidus cast ingot was reheated to semi-solid firstly, and then a bracket of motor was prepared by die casting the semi-solid ingot into mould. The microstructural characteristics of AZ91D alloy in these processes were investigated. In the process of near-liquidus casting, primary α-Mg grains tend to be rosette-like because of the increase of plentiful quasi-solid atom clusters in molten alloy with the decrease of pouring temperature. These rosette-like a-Mg grains in ingots fabricated by near-liquidus casting are fused off and refined into near-globular structure owing to the solute diffusion mechanism and the minimum surface energy mechanism during reheating. After semi-solid die-casting, a-Mg grains, located in biscuit, impact and connect with each other; α-Mg grains, located in inner gate, congregate together; while α-Mg grains, located in component, distribute uniformly and become into globularity or strip. Because the inner gate limits the flowing of semi-solid slurry, and the pressure acted on the semi-solid slurry decreases gradually along the filling direction of semi-solid slurry in Cavity, microstructural segregation of unmelted a-Mg grains appears along this direction. Shrinkage holes in casting are caused by two different reasons. For biscuit, the shrinkage holes are caused by the blocked access of feeding liquid to the shrinkage zone for the agglomerated unmelted α-Mg grains. For component, the shrinkage holes are caused by the lack of feeding of liquid alloy.展开更多
Given the nonuse of TiO2 nanoparticles as the reinforcement of AA2024 alloy in fabricating composites by ex-situ casting methods,it was decided to process the AA2024−xTiO2(np)(x=0,0.5 and 1 vol.%)nanocomposites by emp...Given the nonuse of TiO2 nanoparticles as the reinforcement of AA2024 alloy in fabricating composites by ex-situ casting methods,it was decided to process the AA2024−xTiO2(np)(x=0,0.5 and 1 vol.%)nanocomposites by employing the stir casting method.The structural properties of the produced samples were then investigated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy;their mechanical properties were also addressed by hardness and tensile tests.The results showed that adding 1 vol.%TiO2 nanoparticles reduced the grain size and dendrite arm spacing by about 66%and 31%,respectively.Also,hardness,ultimate tensile strength,yield strength,and elongation of AA2024−1vol.%TiO2(np)composite were increased by about 25%,28%,4%and 163%,respectively,as compared to those of the monolithic component.The agglomerations of nanoparticles in the structure of nanocomposites were found to be a factor weakening the strength against the strengthening mechanisms.Some agglomerations of nanoparticles in the matrix were detected on the fractured surfaces of the tension test specimens.展开更多
The models, algorithms and implementation results of a computerized scheduling system were introduced for the steelmaking-continuous casting process （SCCP） of a steel plant in China. The scheduling of SCCP in this p...The models, algorithms and implementation results of a computerized scheduling system were introduced for the steelmaking-continuous casting process （SCCP） of a steel plant in China. The scheduling of SCCP in this plant required that each cast plan should be processed on time, the charges in the same cast should be processed con- tinuously on the same caster, and the waiting time of the charges which are in front of each caster cannot exceed the given threshold. At the same time, the processing time of charges cannot be conflicted mutually in the same convert- ers or refining furnaces. Based on the research background, a hybrid optimal scheduling approach and its application were discussed. Aiming at the main equipment scheduling, an optimal scheduling method was proposed which con- sisted of equipment assignment algorithm based on dynamic program （DP） technique and conflict elimination algo rithm based on linear program （LP） technique. The approach guarantees that the charges are continuously processed on the same caster. Meanwhile, the requirement for high temperature ladle can also be satisfied due to the ladle matching function. Numerical results demonstrate solution quality, computational efficiency, and values of the mod els and algorithm.展开更多
The effect of set-back distance on the thermo-mechanical behavior of the strip during twin roll casting(TRC)of an AZ31 magnesium alloy was modeled using finite element method(FEM).Model validation was done by comparin...The effect of set-back distance on the thermo-mechanical behavior of the strip during twin roll casting(TRC)of an AZ31 magnesium alloy was modeled using finite element method(FEM).Model validation was done by comparing the predicted and measured exit strip surface temperature as well as the secondary dendrite arm spacing(SDAS)through the thickness of the sheet to those measured during experiments.Model results showed as the set-back distance increases,the strip exit temperature decreases and the solidification front moves toward the entry of the roll gap.The cast strip also experiences more plastic deformation and consequently,the normal stress on the strip surface and effective strain at the strip center-line increase.Moreover,higher separating forces were predicted for longer set-back distances.Model predictions showed that changing the set-back distance by varying the final thickness has a more significant effect on the temperature and stress-strain fields than altering the nozzle opening height.展开更多
Thermal stress simulation can provide a scientific reference to eliminate defects such as crack,residual stress centralization and deformation etc.,caused by thermal stress during casting solidification.To study the t...Thermal stress simulation can provide a scientific reference to eliminate defects such as crack,residual stress centralization and deformation etc.,caused by thermal stress during casting solidification.To study the thermal stress distribution during casting process,a unilateral thermal-stress coupling model was employed to simulate 3D casting stress using Finite Difference Method(FDM),namely all the traditional thermal-elastic-plastic equations are numerically and differentially discrete.A FDM/FDM numerical simulation system was developed to analyze temperature and stress fields during casting solidification process.Two practical verifications were carried out,and the results from simulation basically coincided with practical cases.The results indicated that the FDM/FDM stress simulation system can be used to simulate the formation of residual stress,and to predict the occurrence of hot tearing.Because heat transfer and stress analysis are all based on FDM,they can use the same FD model,which can avoid the matching process between different models,and hence reduce temperature-load transferring errors.This approach makes the simulation of fluid flow,heat transfer and stress analysis unify into one single model.展开更多
Optimization of casting process involves the adjustment of parameters as well as the improvement of process schemes and measures.This paper proposes a new method based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving(TRIZ) ...Optimization of casting process involves the adjustment of parameters as well as the improvement of process schemes and measures.This paper proposes a new method based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving(TRIZ) for casting process optimization,and realizes the idea of applying TRIZ to optimize the casting process of a magnesium alloy intake manifold.By this method,the casting process is optimized so as to remove the shrinkage pores.The successful optimization of casting process demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method.展开更多
Sliding gate control system is widely employed in continuous casting process of steel to control flow rate of molten steel.As molten steel passes through a sliding gate,uneven flow develops.This will cause asymmetrica...Sliding gate control system is widely employed in continuous casting process of steel to control flow rate of molten steel.As molten steel passes through a sliding gate,uneven flow develops.This will cause asymmetrical distribution of flow and temperature field in mold consequently,formation of vortex near the nozzle and entrapment of CC powder into the molten steel.etc,which have negative effect on process productivity and product quality.To suppress the uneven flow,electromagnetic swirling flow has been proposed to impose on the flow in submerged entry nozzle below the sliding gate.In this study the uneven flow developed by incompletely open sliding gate and the suppression of this uneven flow using electromagnetic swirling flow are numerically studied in round billet continuous casting of steel process.The improvement of the flow and temperature filed in the submerged entry nozzle and mold are investigated.It is found that:The uneven velocity in nozzle can be suppressed by electromagnetic swirling flow,and the flow and temperature field in mold be improved obviously;With the increase of electromagnetic swirling intensity,the effect of uneven flow can be almost completely suppressed.展开更多
The traditional foundry industry has developed rapidly in recently years due to advancements in computer technology. Modifying and designing the feeding system has become more convenient with the help of the casting s...The traditional foundry industry has developed rapidly in recently years due to advancements in computer technology. Modifying and designing the feeding system has become more convenient with the help of the casting software, Inte CAST. A common method of designing a feeding system is to first design the initial systems, run simulations with casting software, analyze the feedback, and then redesign. In this work, genetic, fruit fly, and interior point optimizer(IPOPT) algorithms were introduced to guide the optimal riser design for the feeding system. The results calculated by the three optimal algorithms indicate that the riser volume has a weak relationship with the modulus constraint; while it has a close relationship with the volume constraint. Based on the convergence rate, the fruit fly algorithm was obviously faster than the genetic algorithm. The optimized riser was also applied during casting, and was simulated using Inte CAST. The numerical simulation results reveal that with the same riser volume, the riser optimized by the genetic and fruit fly algorithms has a similar improvement on casting shrinkage. The IPOPT algorithm has the advantage of causing the smallest shrinkage porosities, compared to those of the genetic and fruit fly algorithms, which were almost the same.展开更多
The complex sand-casting process combined with the interactions between process parameters makes it difficult to control the casting quality,resulting in a high scrap rate.A strategy based on a data-driven model was p...The complex sand-casting process combined with the interactions between process parameters makes it difficult to control the casting quality,resulting in a high scrap rate.A strategy based on a data-driven model was proposed to reduce casting defects and improve production efficiency,which includes the random forest(RF)classification model,the feature importance analysis,and the process parameters optimization with Monte Carlo simulation.The collected data includes four types of defects and corresponding process parameters were used to construct the RF model.Classification results show a recall rate above 90% for all categories.The Gini Index was used to assess the importance of the process parameters in the formation of various defects in the RF model.Finally,the classification model was applied to different production conditions for quality prediction.In the case of process parameters optimization for gas porosity defects,this model serves as an experimental process in the Monte Carlo method to estimate a better temperature distribution.The prediction model,when applied to the factory,greatly improved the efficiency of defect detection.Results show that the scrap rate decreased from 10.16% to 6.68%.展开更多
For optimal design of a gating system,the setting of diagnosis parameters is very important.In this study,the permanent mold casting process was selected because most of the other casting processes have more complicat...For optimal design of a gating system,the setting of diagnosis parameters is very important.In this study,the permanent mold casting process was selected because most of the other casting processes have more complicated factors that influence the mold filling pattern compared to the permanent mold casting process,such as the surface roughness of mold,gas generation from the mold wash and binder of sand mold,and the gas permeability through a sand mold,etc.Two diagnosis parameters(flow rate difference and arrival time difference) of molten metal flow pattern in the numerical simulation are suggested for design of an optimum casting system with a permanent mold.The results show that the arrival time difference can be used as one important diagnosis parameter of the complexity of the runner system and its usefulness has been verified via making aluminum parts using permanent mold casting(Fig.9).展开更多
In this research, Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn alloy ingots were prepared using ceramic mold and centrifugalcasting. The Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn setting casting, for aeronautic engine, with 1.5 mm in thickness was manufactured.The a...In this research, Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn alloy ingots were prepared using ceramic mold and centrifugalcasting. The Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn setting casting, for aeronautic engine, with 1.5 mm in thickness was manufactured.The alloy melting process, precision casting process, and problems in casting application were discussed. Effects ofHot Isostatic Pressing and heat treatment on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn alloy were studied.展开更多
The effects of Sr addition and pressure increase on the microstructure and casting defects of a low-pressure die cast （LPDC） AISi7Mg0.3 alloy have been studied. Metallographic and image analysis techniques have been...The effects of Sr addition and pressure increase on the microstructure and casting defects of a low-pressure die cast （LPDC） AISi7Mg0.3 alloy have been studied. Metallographic and image analysis techniques have been used to quantitatively examine the microstructural changes and the amount of porosity occurring at different Sr levels and pressure parameters. The results indicate that an increase in the filling pressure induces lower heat dissipation of the liquid close to the die/core surfaces, with the formation of slightly greater dendrite arms and coarser eutectic Si particles. On the other hand, the increase in the Sr level leads to finer microstructural scale and eutectic Si. The analysed variables, within the experimental conditions, do not affect the morphology of eutectic Si particles. Higher applied pressure and Sr content generate castings with lower amount of porosiW. However, as the filling pressure increases the flow of metal inside the die cavity is more turbulent, leading to the formation of oxide films and cold shots. In the analysed range of experimental conditions, the design of experiment methodology and the analysis of variance have been used to develop statistical models that accurately predict the average size of secondary dendrite arm spacing and the amount of porosity in the low-pressure die cast AISiTMg0.3 alloy.展开更多
Swirling flow in a submerged entry nozzle is effective on improving quality of casting block and casting speed in continuous casting of steel.A new method for swirling flow generation in the nozzle has been proposed b...Swirling flow in a submerged entry nozzle is effective on improving quality of casting block and casting speed in continuous casting of steel.A new method for swirling flow generation in the nozzle has been proposed by the authors,that is a rotating electromagnetic field is set up around a submerged entry nozzle(SEN)to induce swirling flow in it by Lorentz force.In this study,the magnetic field in molten steel in the submerged entry nozzle,the flow and temperature field in the SEN and mold in round,square billet and slab continuous casting process of steel are numerically studied.The model experiment of electromagnetic swirling continuous casting is also conducted with low melting point alloy.The commercial test for slab is undergoing.Results by numerical simulation and experiment show that the swirling flow by the optimum designed electromagnetic swirling generator can not only improve the distribution of flow and temperature in mold but also achieve the same effects generated by the swirling blade process. And,more effects on continuous casting process can be expected after this electromagnetic swirling process is optimized.展开更多
The bonding quality of bronze/steel bimetallic laminated composite is the key factor to whether it can be used in poor working conditions.In this study,bimetallic billets were prepared by the protective atmosphere cas...The bonding quality of bronze/steel bimetallic laminated composite is the key factor to whether it can be used in poor working conditions.In this study,bimetallic billets were prepared by the protective atmosphere casting process.The microstructural characteristics,mechanical properties and interface bonding mechanism of the bronze/steel bimetallic composites were analyzed comprehensively through a series of microstructure analysis(inicluding OM,SEM,and EDS)and mechanical properties tests.The experimental results demonstrate that the vaporization of lead(Pb)element in the bronze is only 0.4%in weight,and alloy elements are diffused into both sides at the interface.Moreover,the hardness in the bronze region exceeds 100.0 HV which indicates excellent wear resistance.Tensile and shear tests indicate that the fractures mainly occur on the bronze side with the interaction of the brittle fracture of Pb particles and the ductile fracture of Cu-Sn solid solution.The maximum tensile strength and shear strength reach 204.0 MPa and 211.0 MPa,respectively.These results demonstrate that the protective atmosphere casting process is applicable for the preparation of bronze/steel bimetallic laminated composite with high quality.展开更多
文摘Purpose–The precast concrete slab track(PST)has advantages of fewer maintenance frequencies,better smooth rides and structural stability,which has been widely applied in urban rail transit.Precise positioning of precast concrete slab(PCS)is vital for keeping the initial track regularity.However,the cast-in-place process of the self-compacting concrete(SCC)filling layer generally causes a large deformation of PCS due to the water-hammer effect of flowing SCC,even cracking of PCS.Currently,the buoyancy characteristic and influencing factors of PCS during the SCC casting process have not been thoroughly studied in urban rail transit.Design/methodology/approach–In this work,a Computational Fluid Dynamics(CFD)model is established to calculate the buoyancy of PCS caused by the flowing SCC.The main influencing factors,including the inlet speed and flowability of SCC,have been analyzed and discussed.A new structural optimization scheme has been proposed for PST to reduce the buoyancy caused by the flowing SCC.Findings–The simulation and field test results showed that the buoyancy and deformation of PCS decreased obviously after adopting the new scheme.Originality/value–The findings of this study can provide guidance for the control of the deformation of PCS during the SCC construction process.
基金the financial support of the Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province,China (Grant No.2022CFB770)。
文摘In the foundry industries,process design has traditionally relied on manuals and complex theoretical calculations.With the advent of 3D design in casting,computer-aided design(CAD)has been applied to integrate the features of casting process,thereby expanding the scope of design options.These technologies use parametric model design techniques for rapid component creation and use databases to access standard process parameters and design specifications.However,3D models are currently still created through inputting or calling parameters,which requires numerous verifications through calculations to ensure the design rationality.This process may be significantly slowed down due to repetitive modifications and extended design time.As a result,there are increasingly urgent demands for a real-time verification mechanism to address this issue.Therefore,this study proposed a novel closed-loop model and software development method that integrated contextual design with real-time verification,dynamically verifying relevant rules for designing 3D casting components.Additionally,the study analyzed three typical closed-loop scenarios of agile design in an independent developed intelligent casting process system.It is believed that foundry industries can potentially benefit from favorably reduced design cycles to yield an enhanced competitive product market.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52293395)National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFB3702403).
文摘The modified precipitation theory was employed to directly predict the multi-variantε-carbide precipitation from thermodynamics and growing and ripening kinetics.Three distinct variants were identified:Variants 1 and 2 were the perpendicular plate-likeε-carbides,while the granularε-carbides were Variant 3.The particle sizes of Variants 1 and 2 were usually larger than those of Variant 3.The mean aspect ratios of Variants 1 and 2 were 4.96,4.62 and 4.35 larger than those(1.72,1.63 and 1.56)for the granularε-carbides when coiled at 140,200 and 250℃,respectively.Thermodynamic analysis indicated that Variants 1 and 2 are easier to nucleate than Variant 3.The growing kinetic analysis implied that the relative nucleation time and precipitation time for Variants 1 and 2 were about 8 and 5 orders of magnitude less than those for Variant 3,respectively.The ripening kinetics further displayed that the ripening rate was similar for Variants 1,2 and 3.In addition,the dislocation density has weak influence onε-carbide nucleation.These findings suggest that the precipitation thermodynamic and kinetic models could be extended to second phase precipitation in other materials systems.Besides,nano-scaleε-carbides,fine block size and nano-twins,as well as medium-density dislocations,jointly caused the optimal match between strength and total elongation when coiled at 140℃.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.52074246)the National Defense Basic Scientific Research Program of China(No.JCKY2020408B002)+1 种基金the Key R&D Program of Shanxi Province(No.202102050201011)the Shanxi Province Graduate Innovation Project(No.2021Y591).
文摘Casting technology is a fundamental and irreplaceable method in advanced manufacturing.The design and optimization of casting processes are crucial for producing high-performance,complex metal components.Transitioning from traditional process design based on"experience+experiment"to an integrated,intelligent approach is essential for achieving precise control over microstructure and properties.This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic review of intelligent casting process design and optimization for the first time.First,it explores process design methods based on casting simulation and integrated computational materials engineering(ICME).It then examines the application of machine learning(ML)in process design,highlighting its efficiency and existing challenges,along with the development of integrated intelligent design platforms.Finally,future research directions are discussed to drive further advancements and sustainable development in intelligent casting design and optimization.
基金Item Sponsored by Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of China(N100409010)Project for Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province of China(LS2010065)"111 Project"of Northeastern University of China(B07015)
文摘A new process for swirling flow generation in the submerged entry nozzle （SEN） in continuous casting process of steel was proposed. A rotating electromagnetic field was set up around the SEN to induce swirling flow by Lorentz force. The flow and temperature fields in the SEN and round billet mold with electromagnetic swirling were numerically simulated and then verified by the electromagnetic swirling model experiment of low melting point alloy. The effects of divergent angle of the SEN on the flow and temperature fields in mold with electromagnetic swirling were investigated. The electromagnetic swirling flow generator （EMSFG） could effectively induce swirling flow of molten steel in the SEN, which consequently improved greatly the flow and temperature fields in the mold. Below the nozzle outlet in mold, with the increase of divergent angle, the stream of bulk flow diverged more widely, the high temperature zone shifted up, and the temperature field became more uniform. Above the nozzle outlet in mold, with 350 A electromagnetic swirling, when the divergent angle of the SEN increased, the upward flow velocity and the meniscus temperature first increased and then decreased. With a divergent angle of 60~, the upward flow velocity and meniscus temperature reaced the largest value.
文摘A 3-D mathematical model considering turbulence phenomena has been established based on a computational fluid dynamics technique, so called 3-D SOLA-VOF (Solution Algorithm-Volume of Fluid), to simulate the fluid flow of mold filling process of die casting. In addition, the mathematical model for simulating the heat transfer in die casting process has also been established. The computation program has been developed by the authors with the finite difference method (FDM) recently. As verification, the mold filling process of a S-shaped die casting has been simulated and the simulation results coincide with that of the benchmark test. Finally, as a practical application, the gating design of a motorcycle component was modified by the mold filling simulation and the dies design of another motorcycle component was optimized by the heat transfer simulation. All the optimized designs were verified by the production practice.
基金Project(2008BB4177) supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Chongqing City, China
文摘Near-liquidus cast ingot was reheated to semi-solid firstly, and then a bracket of motor was prepared by die casting the semi-solid ingot into mould. The microstructural characteristics of AZ91D alloy in these processes were investigated. In the process of near-liquidus casting, primary α-Mg grains tend to be rosette-like because of the increase of plentiful quasi-solid atom clusters in molten alloy with the decrease of pouring temperature. These rosette-like a-Mg grains in ingots fabricated by near-liquidus casting are fused off and refined into near-globular structure owing to the solute diffusion mechanism and the minimum surface energy mechanism during reheating. After semi-solid die-casting, a-Mg grains, located in biscuit, impact and connect with each other; α-Mg grains, located in inner gate, congregate together; while α-Mg grains, located in component, distribute uniformly and become into globularity or strip. Because the inner gate limits the flowing of semi-solid slurry, and the pressure acted on the semi-solid slurry decreases gradually along the filling direction of semi-solid slurry in Cavity, microstructural segregation of unmelted a-Mg grains appears along this direction. Shrinkage holes in casting are caused by two different reasons. For biscuit, the shrinkage holes are caused by the blocked access of feeding liquid to the shrinkage zone for the agglomerated unmelted α-Mg grains. For component, the shrinkage holes are caused by the lack of feeding of liquid alloy.
文摘Given the nonuse of TiO2 nanoparticles as the reinforcement of AA2024 alloy in fabricating composites by ex-situ casting methods,it was decided to process the AA2024−xTiO2(np)(x=0,0.5 and 1 vol.%)nanocomposites by employing the stir casting method.The structural properties of the produced samples were then investigated by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy;their mechanical properties were also addressed by hardness and tensile tests.The results showed that adding 1 vol.%TiO2 nanoparticles reduced the grain size and dendrite arm spacing by about 66%and 31%,respectively.Also,hardness,ultimate tensile strength,yield strength,and elongation of AA2024−1vol.%TiO2(np)composite were increased by about 25%,28%,4%and 163%,respectively,as compared to those of the monolithic component.The agglomerations of nanoparticles in the structure of nanocomposites were found to be a factor weakening the strength against the strengthening mechanisms.Some agglomerations of nanoparticles in the matrix were detected on the fractured surfaces of the tension test specimens.
基金Item Sponsored by National Natural Science Foundation of China(61174187,71021061,60974091,61104174)Startup Fund of Northeastern University of China(29321006)Basic Scientific Research Foundation of Northeast University of China(N110208001)
文摘The models, algorithms and implementation results of a computerized scheduling system were introduced for the steelmaking-continuous casting process （SCCP） of a steel plant in China. The scheduling of SCCP in this plant required that each cast plan should be processed on time, the charges in the same cast should be processed con- tinuously on the same caster, and the waiting time of the charges which are in front of each caster cannot exceed the given threshold. At the same time, the processing time of charges cannot be conflicted mutually in the same convert- ers or refining furnaces. Based on the research background, a hybrid optimal scheduling approach and its application were discussed. Aiming at the main equipment scheduling, an optimal scheduling method was proposed which con- sisted of equipment assignment algorithm based on dynamic program （DP） technique and conflict elimination algo rithm based on linear program （LP） technique. The approach guarantees that the charges are continuously processed on the same caster. Meanwhile, the requirement for high temperature ladle can also be satisfied due to the ladle matching function. Numerical results demonstrate solution quality, computational efficiency, and values of the mod els and algorithm.
基金The authors of this work would like to appreciate the NSERC(Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada)Magnesium Strategic Research Network(MagNET)for the financial support of this work and the Natural Resources Canada Government Materials Laboratory,CanmetMATERIALS located in Hamilton,Ontario for providing the opportunity to perform the experimental parts of the work.The assistance of Dr.M.Kozdras,Dr.A.Javaid,Dr.E.Essadiqi and Mr.G.Birsan and P.Newcombe(from CanmetMATERIALS)in processing the experimental data is gratefully acknowledged.
文摘The effect of set-back distance on the thermo-mechanical behavior of the strip during twin roll casting(TRC)of an AZ31 magnesium alloy was modeled using finite element method(FEM).Model validation was done by comparing the predicted and measured exit strip surface temperature as well as the secondary dendrite arm spacing(SDAS)through the thickness of the sheet to those measured during experiments.Model results showed as the set-back distance increases,the strip exit temperature decreases and the solidification front moves toward the entry of the roll gap.The cast strip also experiences more plastic deformation and consequently,the normal stress on the strip surface and effective strain at the strip center-line increase.Moreover,higher separating forces were predicted for longer set-back distances.Model predictions showed that changing the set-back distance by varying the final thickness has a more significant effect on the temperature and stress-strain fields than altering the nozzle opening height.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.50805056)New Century Excellent Talents in University (No.NCET-09-0396)the Scientific Research Foundation for the Returned Overseas Chinese Scholars,Ministry of Education (2009)
文摘Thermal stress simulation can provide a scientific reference to eliminate defects such as crack,residual stress centralization and deformation etc.,caused by thermal stress during casting solidification.To study the thermal stress distribution during casting process,a unilateral thermal-stress coupling model was employed to simulate 3D casting stress using Finite Difference Method(FDM),namely all the traditional thermal-elastic-plastic equations are numerically and differentially discrete.A FDM/FDM numerical simulation system was developed to analyze temperature and stress fields during casting solidification process.Two practical verifications were carried out,and the results from simulation basically coincided with practical cases.The results indicated that the FDM/FDM stress simulation system can be used to simulate the formation of residual stress,and to predict the occurrence of hot tearing.Because heat transfer and stress analysis are all based on FDM,they can use the same FD model,which can avoid the matching process between different models,and hence reduce temperature-load transferring errors.This approach makes the simulation of fluid flow,heat transfer and stress analysis unify into one single model.
基金supported by the Innovative Methods Special Project (No. 2009IM040200)
文摘Optimization of casting process involves the adjustment of parameters as well as the improvement of process schemes and measures.This paper proposes a new method based on the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving(TRIZ) for casting process optimization,and realizes the idea of applying TRIZ to optimize the casting process of a magnesium alloy intake manifold.By this method,the casting process is optimized so as to remove the shrinkage pores.The successful optimization of casting process demonstrates the feasibility of the proposed method.
基金Item Sponsored by The Central Universities(N100409010)Project for Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province(LS2010065)"111 project" of Northeastern University,China(B07015)
文摘Sliding gate control system is widely employed in continuous casting process of steel to control flow rate of molten steel.As molten steel passes through a sliding gate,uneven flow develops.This will cause asymmetrical distribution of flow and temperature field in mold consequently,formation of vortex near the nozzle and entrapment of CC powder into the molten steel.etc,which have negative effect on process productivity and product quality.To suppress the uneven flow,electromagnetic swirling flow has been proposed to impose on the flow in submerged entry nozzle below the sliding gate.In this study the uneven flow developed by incompletely open sliding gate and the suppression of this uneven flow using electromagnetic swirling flow are numerically studied in round billet continuous casting of steel process.The improvement of the flow and temperature filed in the submerged entry nozzle and mold are investigated.It is found that:The uneven velocity in nozzle can be suppressed by electromagnetic swirling flow,and the flow and temperature field in mold be improved obviously;With the increase of electromagnetic swirling intensity,the effect of uneven flow can be almost completely suppressed.
基金financially supported by the National Science and Technology Key Projects of Numerical Control(2012ZX04012-011)the State Key Laboratory of Materials Processing and Die&Mold Technology Research Project(2014,2015)
文摘The traditional foundry industry has developed rapidly in recently years due to advancements in computer technology. Modifying and designing the feeding system has become more convenient with the help of the casting software, Inte CAST. A common method of designing a feeding system is to first design the initial systems, run simulations with casting software, analyze the feedback, and then redesign. In this work, genetic, fruit fly, and interior point optimizer(IPOPT) algorithms were introduced to guide the optimal riser design for the feeding system. The results calculated by the three optimal algorithms indicate that the riser volume has a weak relationship with the modulus constraint; while it has a close relationship with the volume constraint. Based on the convergence rate, the fruit fly algorithm was obviously faster than the genetic algorithm. The optimized riser was also applied during casting, and was simulated using Inte CAST. The numerical simulation results reveal that with the same riser volume, the riser optimized by the genetic and fruit fly algorithms has a similar improvement on casting shrinkage. The IPOPT algorithm has the advantage of causing the smallest shrinkage porosities, compared to those of the genetic and fruit fly algorithms, which were almost the same.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022YFB3706800,2020YFB1710100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51821001,52090042,52074183)。
文摘The complex sand-casting process combined with the interactions between process parameters makes it difficult to control the casting quality,resulting in a high scrap rate.A strategy based on a data-driven model was proposed to reduce casting defects and improve production efficiency,which includes the random forest(RF)classification model,the feature importance analysis,and the process parameters optimization with Monte Carlo simulation.The collected data includes four types of defects and corresponding process parameters were used to construct the RF model.Classification results show a recall rate above 90% for all categories.The Gini Index was used to assess the importance of the process parameters in the formation of various defects in the RF model.Finally,the classification model was applied to different production conditions for quality prediction.In the case of process parameters optimization for gas porosity defects,this model serves as an experimental process in the Monte Carlo method to estimate a better temperature distribution.The prediction model,when applied to the factory,greatly improved the efficiency of defect detection.Results show that the scrap rate decreased from 10.16% to 6.68%.
基金the international cooperative program between KITECH(Korea Institute of Industrial Technology)and SRIF(Shenyang Research Institute of Foundry)
文摘For optimal design of a gating system,the setting of diagnosis parameters is very important.In this study,the permanent mold casting process was selected because most of the other casting processes have more complicated factors that influence the mold filling pattern compared to the permanent mold casting process,such as the surface roughness of mold,gas generation from the mold wash and binder of sand mold,and the gas permeability through a sand mold,etc.Two diagnosis parameters(flow rate difference and arrival time difference) of molten metal flow pattern in the numerical simulation are suggested for design of an optimum casting system with a permanent mold.The results show that the arrival time difference can be used as one important diagnosis parameter of the complexity of the runner system and its usefulness has been verified via making aluminum parts using permanent mold casting(Fig.9).
文摘In this research, Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn alloy ingots were prepared using ceramic mold and centrifugalcasting. The Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn setting casting, for aeronautic engine, with 1.5 mm in thickness was manufactured.The alloy melting process, precision casting process, and problems in casting application were discussed. Effects ofHot Isostatic Pressing and heat treatment on the mechanical properties and microstructure of the Ti-15V-3Cr-3Al-3Sn alloy were studied.
文摘The effects of Sr addition and pressure increase on the microstructure and casting defects of a low-pressure die cast （LPDC） AISi7Mg0.3 alloy have been studied. Metallographic and image analysis techniques have been used to quantitatively examine the microstructural changes and the amount of porosity occurring at different Sr levels and pressure parameters. The results indicate that an increase in the filling pressure induces lower heat dissipation of the liquid close to the die/core surfaces, with the formation of slightly greater dendrite arms and coarser eutectic Si particles. On the other hand, the increase in the Sr level leads to finer microstructural scale and eutectic Si. The analysed variables, within the experimental conditions, do not affect the morphology of eutectic Si particles. Higher applied pressure and Sr content generate castings with lower amount of porosiW. However, as the filling pressure increases the flow of metal inside the die cavity is more turbulent, leading to the formation of oxide films and cold shots. In the analysed range of experimental conditions, the design of experiment methodology and the analysis of variance have been used to develop statistical models that accurately predict the average size of secondary dendrite arm spacing and the amount of porosity in the low-pressure die cast AISiTMg0.3 alloy.
基金Item Sponsored by Central Universities(N100409010)Project for Key Laboratory of Liaoning Province(LS2010065)"111 project" of Northeastern University,China(B07015)
文摘Swirling flow in a submerged entry nozzle is effective on improving quality of casting block and casting speed in continuous casting of steel.A new method for swirling flow generation in the nozzle has been proposed by the authors,that is a rotating electromagnetic field is set up around a submerged entry nozzle(SEN)to induce swirling flow in it by Lorentz force.In this study,the magnetic field in molten steel in the submerged entry nozzle,the flow and temperature field in the SEN and mold in round,square billet and slab continuous casting process of steel are numerically studied.The model experiment of electromagnetic swirling continuous casting is also conducted with low melting point alloy.The commercial test for slab is undergoing.Results by numerical simulation and experiment show that the swirling flow by the optimum designed electromagnetic swirling generator can not only improve the distribution of flow and temperature in mold but also achieve the same effects generated by the swirling blade process. And,more effects on continuous casting process can be expected after this electromagnetic swirling process is optimized.
文摘The bonding quality of bronze/steel bimetallic laminated composite is the key factor to whether it can be used in poor working conditions.In this study,bimetallic billets were prepared by the protective atmosphere casting process.The microstructural characteristics,mechanical properties and interface bonding mechanism of the bronze/steel bimetallic composites were analyzed comprehensively through a series of microstructure analysis(inicluding OM,SEM,and EDS)and mechanical properties tests.The experimental results demonstrate that the vaporization of lead(Pb)element in the bronze is only 0.4%in weight,and alloy elements are diffused into both sides at the interface.Moreover,the hardness in the bronze region exceeds 100.0 HV which indicates excellent wear resistance.Tensile and shear tests indicate that the fractures mainly occur on the bronze side with the interaction of the brittle fracture of Pb particles and the ductile fracture of Cu-Sn solid solution.The maximum tensile strength and shear strength reach 204.0 MPa and 211.0 MPa,respectively.These results demonstrate that the protective atmosphere casting process is applicable for the preparation of bronze/steel bimetallic laminated composite with high quality.
