Shrinkage porosity usually occurs in parts of castings that solidify the last or so called final solidification zones or places with largest geometric modulus.
Shrinkage porosity is a consequence of shrinkage of melt during solidification. In order to compensate the reduction in volume of melt the feeders can be used. Feeders must be dimensioned in order to solidify the last. The final solidification zone must end in the feeder, which is later removed. In cases where feeding area is not large enough, it can be increased by using chills. With chills we can provide directional solidification and move solidification front towards the feeder. Chills are objects that cool down certain parts of casting and move final solidification zones.
Consequently shrinkage porosity moves across the casting or towards the feeders.
For the simulation, we need a 3D model on which we create a volume net, determine the properties of the material, the boundary conditions, the initial casting temperature, and the parameters that define the heat transfer. Since the experiment with actual castings would be uneconomical, the areas where the shrinkage porosity was occurring were determined using the QuickCast simulation program, which operates on the end differential method.
The aim of diploma work is to minimize amount of shrinkage porosity in a spheroidal cast iron casting. The shrinkage porosity was removed from the critical areas by the change of foundry technology. In order to achieve a goal a finite difference method simulation programme QuickCast was used. For the simulation, we need a 3D model on which we create a volume mesh, determine the properties of the material, the boundary conditions, the initial casting temperature, and the parameters that define the heat transfer. In this way a programme gives us a result of critical areas.
The problem of shrinking porosity was solved by adding three chills, removing one exothermic feeder and adding a new conical feeder.The amount of shrinkage porosity was reduced and moved in areas which are not problematic.
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