Flow Behaviour of a Feeder at Dendrite Coherency Point In Metal Castings

Abstract

This study applied heat transfer and fluid flow in numerical simulation of metal casting solidification in order to investigate the solidification behaviour of the metal casting as it reaches dendrite coherency point. The goal is to explore and gain insight about the ability of a given feeder design to feed the casting section to obtain a shrinkage-defect-free casting. The mathematical model of the casting solidification was solved using the finite volume method (FVM). Various feeder designs for a step casting of aluminium alloys were studied. The relationship of the flow characteristic and the soundness of the casting is explored. The objective is to gain insight on how the metal flow behaviour at dendrite coherency may influence the casting performance. The scope of this study is limited to lost-foam sand casting of aluminium-silicon alloys.