Design of corners of mould in square billet casting

In continuous casting, heat flow optimisation in the mould is key to improving the quality of the product and production savings. The heat flow influences, and is influenced by, several phenomena of a mechanical or metallurgical nature, so its optimisation should include these. In particular, shrinkage of the strand and solid phase formation are among the most influencing factors affecting the cooling of the solidifying product. The present paper describes a model implemented by a software tool that can carry out simulation of shell formation of carbon steel within the mould, for rectangular shapes. The first aim of the software is to simulate formation of the solid shell in the strand and the deformations to which this solid is subjected. Deformations are a result of both thermal shrinkage, related to phase changes, and stresses caused by metallostatic pressure or the mould-shell interaction. The output of the model consists of temperature maps of the strand, maps of formation of the shell and the ideal mould contour.