Influence of oxide film defects generated in filling on mechanical strength of aluminium alloy castings

X. Dai, X. Yang, J. Campbell, J. Wood

Research output: Journal PublicationArticlepeer-review

65 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The influence of oxide film defects generated from the filling process on the mechanical strength of aluminium alloy castings has been investigated. Using numerical simulation and experimental validation, the investigation aims to reveal the relationships among the liquid aluminium flow behaviour in the filling, the likely oxide film defect distribution caused by surface turbulence and the final mechanical strength of the castings. CFD modelling was used to investigate the liquid metal flow behaviour and the likely oxide film defect distribution in the filling at different ingate velocities. In particular, a numerical algorithm - Oxide Film Entrainment Tracking (OFET, 2-D) has been proposed and developed for predicting such oxide film defect distribution in the liquid aluminium throughout the filling. Also, light microscopic and SEM techniques were used to identify the microstructures of oxide film casting defects. The Weibull statistics method was employed to quantify the effects of oxide film distributions on the mechanical strength and reliability of the acquired aluminium alloy castings for different runner systems. It was found from the numerical simulations that the ingate velocities acquired using different runner systems have significant influence on the distribution of oxide film defects generated by surface turbulence in the filling process, which results in the disparities of the final mechanical strength of the castings. The results of the mechanical property test and the SEM micro-structural analysis of the castings are consistent with the numerical simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)505-513
Number of pages9
JournalMaterials Science and Technology
Volume20
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2004
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aluminium alloys
  • Casting
  • Defects
  • Modelling
  • Oxide films

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering

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