Finite element modelling of the squeeze casting process
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 22 May 2008
Abstract
Purpose
This paper sets out to present developments of a numerical model of squeeze casting process.
Design/methodology/approach
The entire process is modelled using the finite element method. The mould filling, associated thermal and thermomechanical equations are discretized using the Galerkin method. The front in the filling analysis is followed using volume of fluid method and the advection equation is discretized using the Taylor Galerkin method. The coupling between mould filling and the thermal problem is achieved by solving the thermal equation explicitly at the end of each time step of the Navier Stokes and advection equations, which allows one to consider the actual position of the front of the filling material. The thermomechanical problem is defined as elasto‐visco‐plastic described in a Lagrangian frame and is solved in the staggered mode. A parallel version of the thermomechanical program is presented. A microstructural solidification model is applied.
Findings
During mould filling a quasi‐static Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) is applied and the resulting temperatures distribution is used as the initial condition for the cooling phase. During mould filling the applied pressure can be used as a control for steering the distribution of the solidified fractions.
Practical implications
The presented model can be used in engineering practice. The industrial examples are shown.
Originality/value
The quasi‐static ALE approach was found to be applicable to model the industrial SQC processes. It was found that the staggered scheme of the solution of the thermomechanical problem could parallelize using a multifrontal parallel solver.
Keywords
Citation
Postek, E.W., Lewis, R.W. and Gethin, D.T. (2008), "Finite element modelling of the squeeze casting process", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 18 No. 3/4, pp. 325-355. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615530810853619
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2008, Emerald Group Publishing Limited