A COUPLED THERMO-MECHANICAL SIMULATION ON SQUEEZE CASTING SOLIDIFICATION PROCESS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL GEOMETRICALLY COMPLEX COMPONENTS

摘要

A coupled thermo-mechanical simulation method for three-dimensional squeeze casting components has been developed. The simulation was achieved by using ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL). The effect of volume shrinkage due to cooling and solidification, the effect of pressure on the latent heat release, the mutual dependence of interfacial heat transfer and casting deformation, and materials behavior under elevated temperatures were taken into account in the simulation. A step-shaped trial casting was simulated, which demonstrates the ability of the method to simulate the pressure transmission and decline inside the casting as well as the distribution and evolution of the interfacial heat transfer coefficient. Finally, the method was applied to simulate the solidification of an automotive sub-frame component, based on which the squeeze casting process of the component was optimized.