Thermo-mechanical analysis of the flange in a Billet continuous casting machine based on limited temperature measurements

ABSTRACT This paper targets at the calculation of in-service deformation of a flange in a billet continuous casting machine due to thermal loading. In this regard, first, the thermal analyses of the mould will be thoroughly and accurately conducted. Henceforth, the heat flux profile from the melt to the mould is derived from the literature and, based on the limited temperature measurements, it is calibrated for the understudy mould. Moreover, for the upper part of the meniscus, the effect of radiation is considered as a heat flux profile with an exponential function. Subsequently, the thermo-mechanical analysis is conducted by applying the thermal load, as a temperature distribution, on the corresponding finite element (FE) model. The results of the analysis for the critical flange showed that the calculated deformation at the critical point, 1.08 mm, is close to the value reported by the manufacturer which is 1.25 mm.