Full-Process Numerical Simulation of Flow, Heat Transfer and Solidification for Hot Stamping Steel Manufactured via Thin Slab Continuous Casting Process

Abstract

Thin slab casting and rolling (TSCR) is a near-net-shape manufacturing process and a key development technology in China's iron and steel industry. This study uses cross-scale calculations to analyze the complete process of thin slab casting. The focus is on simulating and predicting the final solidification structure by adjusting process parameters. The aim is to enable further investigation into material performance and establish a foundation for researching deformation and phase transformation. To achieve this, a coupled model has been developed to simulate the entire thin slab casting process, using hot stamping steel as the research subject. The model encompasses fluid flow, heat transfer, and solidification. The study identifies the optimal combination for flow field, temperature distribution, and equiaxed grain ratio within the specified parameter range at a casting speed of 4.0 m/min and a superheat of 40 °C. The aim of the study is to establish an integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) research system for near-net-shape automotive steel casting processes.

Graphical Abstract