Numerical simulation for the investment casting process of a large-size titanium alloy thin-wall casing

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnsc.2018.06.005
• Publication Date: 2018-08-01T09:17:37Z
• Authors: Pan Tao; Heng Shao; Zhijun Ji; Hai Nan; Qingyan Xu
• Keywords: Shrinkage; Investment casting; Centrifugal casting (silversmithing); Titanium alloy; Simulation software

To optimize the investment casting process when producing high quality large-size titanium alloy thin-wall components is a time-consuming job due to complicated metallurgical process. Numerical simulation high-efficiency method compared with trial and error, therefore introduced optimization shorten new product development cycle reduce production cost. In this study, weakly compressible model (WCM) ununiformed finite difference mesh (UFDM) was developed memory consumption ensure efficiency. The precision of WCM UFDM were verified by numerical cavity heat convection in square hydraulics centrifugal filling transparent cavity. casing under different conditions accomplished using self-developed software, distribution characteristics potential shrinkage defects predicted. It found that predicted matched well actual X-ray experimental results. For investigated paper, more results show respect gravity had no obvious improvements concentrated defects, can be reasonable from engineering point view.