Our Mission
Mission Statement
The Continuous Casting Center aims to develop comprehensive mathematical models of the continuous casting of steel and related processes, and apply them practically to enhance understanding, optimize operations, and address sponsor concerns.
Mathematical Modeling Capabilities
Over the past decade, researchers have created integrated models simulating multiple phenomena in steel slab casting, including:
- Turbulent flow through submerged bifurcated nozzles
- Multiphase fluid dynamics in the mold (accounting for argon injection and particles)
- Mass transfer during grade transitions
- Thermal behavior within mold powder layers
- Interface heat transfer between mold and steel
- Copper mold distortion, fatigue, and cracking
- Coupled heat flow, shrinkage, stress development, and hot tear cracking in solidifying shells
The system has been validated against physical water models and industrial measurements, successfully reproducing known phenomena while generating new insights.
Practical Applications
Fast, user-friendly model versions are actively deployed at sponsoring steel companies for:
- Submerged entry nozzle design
- Mold taper optimization during width changes and high-speed casting
- Reducing slab quality loss during grade transitions
- Controlling argon injection for optimal mold flow
- Analyzing effects of design and material properties on performance
- Understanding defect formation mechanisms (breakouts, cracks, inclusions, nozzle clogging)
These integrated models serve as a powerful analytical tool for improving continuous casting competitiveness.