Skip to main content
Log in

Modelling of foam degradation in lost foam casting process

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this investigation a new model was developed to calculate gas pressure at the melt/foam interface (Gap) resulting from foam degradation during mould filling in the lost foam casting (LFC) process. Different aspects of the process, such as foam degradation, gas elimination, transient mass, heat transfer, and permeability of the refractory coating were incorporated into this model. A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code was developed based on the numerical technique of the SOLution Algorithm-Volume of Fluid (SOLA-VOF) utilizing model, for the simulation and prediction of the fluid flow in the LFC process. In order to verify the computational results of the simulation, a thin plate of grey iron was poured into a transparent foam mould. The mould filling process was recorded using a 16 mm high-speed camera. Images were analysed frame by frame, in order to measuring foam depolymerization rate and the gap volume during mould filling. Comparison between the experimental method and the simulation results, for the LFC filling sequence, has shown a good agreement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. M. Monroe, “Expendable Patterns Casting” (American Foundry-Man's Society Inc., 1992) p. 84.

  2. C. H. Tseng, “A Study of the Mould Filling Parameters in the Evaporative Pattern Casting Process,” Ph.D. Thesis, Missouri-Rolla University, USA, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ø. Nielsen, B. Applaire and H. Combeau, Metall. Mater. Trans. A 32A (2001) 2049.

    Google Scholar 

  4. A. J. Duncan and Q. Han, ibid. B 30B (1999) 7745.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Y. Sun, D. Askeland and H. Tsai, AFS Transaction 98 (1992) 308.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Y. Sun, H. Tsai and D. Askeland, ibid. 104 (1996) 271.

    Google Scholar 

  7. L. Wang, S. Shivkumar and D. Apelian, ibid. 181 (1990) 923.

    Google Scholar 

  8. J. Zhu, I. Ohanka and Y. Yoshioka, J. Jpn Foundry Engng. Soc. 72 (2000) 715.

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. Yang, T. Huang and J. Fu, AFS Transaction 128 (1998) 21.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Y. Liu, S. I. Bakhtiyarov and R. A. Overleft, J. Mater. Sci. 37 (2002) 2997.

    Google Scholar 

  11. I. Ohnaka, in Proceeding of the 6th International Conference on Modelling of Casting, Welding and Advance Solidification, edited by T. S. Piwonka et al. (MMMS, 1993) p. 337.

  12. B. D. Nichols and C. W. Hirt, Flow Science, inc. Available at http://www.flow3d.com.

  13. P. Davami and S. M. H. Mirbagheri, Available at http://www.sutcast.com.

  14. S. H. M. Mirbagheri, P. Davami and N. Varahram, Intern. J. Numer. Meth. Engng. (2002) (accepted).

  15. C. M. Wang, J. Paul and J. Huey, in Proceeding of the 6th International Conference on Modelling of Casting, Welding and Advance Solidification, edited by T.S Piwonka et al. (MMMS, 1993) p. 477.

  16. S. M. H. Mirbagheri, “Computer Simulation Fluid Flow in LFC Mould Cavity Casting by Finite Difference Method,” Ph.D. Thesis, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2003 (In English).

    Google Scholar 

  17. C. W. Hirt and B. D. Nichols, J. Computational Physic 39 (1981) 201.

    Google Scholar 

  18. M. D. Torrey, L. D. Cloutman and C. W. Hirt, “NASA-VOF2D: A Computer Program for Incompressible Flows with Free Surfaces,” Technical Report LA10642-MS, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (1985).

    Google Scholar 

  19. M. D. Torrey, R. C. Mjolsness and L. R. Stein, “NASA-VOF3D: A Three-Dimensional Computer Program for Incompressible Flow with Free Surface,” Technical Report LA11009-MS, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (1987).

    Google Scholar 

  20. S. D. Elliot, “Fluid Flows Aspects of Solidification Modelling: Simulation of Low-Pressure Die-casting” Ph.D. Thesis, Queens Land University, USA, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  21. S. I. Bakhtiarov and A. Overfelt, AFS Transaction 28 (2001) 271.

    Google Scholar 

  22. H. S. Lee, ibid. 78 (1978) 550.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mirbagheri, S.H.M., Silk, J.R. & Davami, P. Modelling of foam degradation in lost foam casting process. Journal of Materials Science 39, 4593–4603 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSC.0000034154.00641.0b

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSC.0000034154.00641.0b

Keywords

Navigation