MAGMASOFT® - State of the Art of Foundry Process Simulation

摘要

Simulation of foundry processes such as for filling a mould or the solidification of a casting has become an acknowledged technology and has been used in foundries and casting users since more than 25 years. During the years the focus of the simulation turned from the prediction of particular effects like hotspots during solidification into the prediction of the integral quality of the final part. Today, the objective of foundry process simulation is to provide all relevant information being important for the application of the part in use. This exceeds the prediction of integrity (porosities, air inclusion, etc.) but also covers the prediction of mechanical properties, microstructure, residual stresses, fatigue strength, etc. Consequently, casting process simulation has to consider any step of the manufacturing process of a casting, including metallurgical quality, the impact of cores and moulds up to the final casting stress level after removing the gating system. The future of casting process simulation will be the automatic optimisation of casting processes and designs. The presentation will discuss selected aspects of this integral approach.