Numerical Simulation on the Dendritic Spacing and Microporosity in A356 Alloy Ingot

Abstract:

A stochastic mathematic model contained the effects of dendrite morphology, solidification shrinkage and dissolved gases was formed to simulate microporosity formation and growth. Microporosities appear in the interspaces of primary dendrites as well as secondary dendrites from microscopic view of A356 aluminum alloy experimental ingot with a metal mold. In the past literatures it took the volumetric fraction of microporosities as a function of the local density. In the present work a single pore size and distribution were predicted concerning the combination of shrinkage and dissolved gases and dendritic spacing. The dendritic spacing is a main parameter to decide the pore pattern. For shrinkage and dissolved gases causes, the favorable one is determined by dendritic spacing, also the local cool rate and tip growth rate. The dense degree of the experimental ingots in different casting conditions was discussed. The variations of dens degree from the measured values in different casting conditions are similar to that of porosity volume fraction from the predicted results.