J. Michalik, C. Kolmasiak Physical Modeling of Stresses during Continuous Casting of St3s Steel

During the continuous casting process, a nonstationary stress state forms in the metal, which is caused by a non-uniform temperature distribution, phase transitions, and the deformation of the stock in a semi-liquid state. Stresses occur also as a results of ferrostatic pressure and the deflection and straightening of the continuous casting. In addition to these phenomena, intensive processes of stress relaxation occur in the metal. A prerequisite for obtaining an accurate model of stresses in the metal during continuous casting is to take these phenomena into account. The equations of the model developed are presented in works 1-4 . The numerical analysis carried out in the work was based on the actual conditions of the continuous casting process in a Polish steel mill. Conditions of the mathematical and physical modelling of the process were selected for a 300×400 mm casting of St3S steel. The aim of the study was to physically model the processes of stress formation and relaxation in metal during continuous casting. Variations in temperature and strain rate at the characteristic points of the casting cross-section were obtained by using the mathematical model of the thermomechanical state of metal. From computer simulation, conditions for physical modelling on the GLEEBLE 3800 simulator were determined. This machine enables the modelling of the influence of temperature and strain factors on the metal within a wide range of variation of thermomechanical parameters.