Numerical simulation of macrosegregation with grain motion during solidification of Mg-4wt.%Y alloy

摘要

A two-phase solidification model was used that incorporates the descriptions of natural convection, heat transfer, solute transport and solid movement at macroscopic scale with microscopic relations for grain nucleation and growth. The implementation of the two-phase model was validated by comparisons with a consensus of previous numerical simulation for Sn-5wt.%Pb alloy and with experiment for Mg-4wt.%Y alloy cast in one-side-chilled resin sand mould. With free movement of globular grains in the bulk liquid, effects of melt superheat and nucleation density on fluid flow behavior and macrosegregation during solidification of Mg-4wt.%Y alloy were numerically investigated. It was found that a lower melt superheat and a higher nucleation density decrease the severity of macrosegregation by weakening the flotation of grains.