The continuous casting process is a widely used technique in modern steel plants. However, it is a complicated process that is not well understood. The objective of this research is to model the porosity and macrosegregation due to shrinkage related effects and solid deformation in the continuous casting of steel. Solid phase movements due to bulging and variable roll gap are modeled with a simple algebraic equation based on assumed slab surface deflection. A simplified single domain fluid flow model is derived to predict the pressure field. When liquid pressure drops to zero, porosity starts to form. The distribution of porosity is calculated using the porosity equation which is based on the mass conservation. A macrosegregation model based on the species conservation is derived. With the relative velocity calculated from the pressure results and the solid velocity, macrosegregation is obtained. Since the solid phase velocity is not zero and mixture density is not assumed to be constant, porosity and macrosegregation due to both solid deformation and shrinkage effects are incorporated. In order to validate the model, the pressure field of a three-dimensional pure metal solidification system is simulated. The results show the feasibility of the proposed model to predict the fluid flow. The porosity and macrosegregation prediction for different casting conditions are performed. The results confirm the necessity of including solid phase deformation in the prediction of porosity and centerline macrosegregation. The results also reveal the relations between different operating conditions (such as degree of bulging, soft reduction, and casting speed) and the porosity/macrosegregation defects in the final product.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da tÃcnica de soldagem de aÃos AISI 8630M e ASTM A182 F22 aplicados em componentes estruturais subaquÃticos do setor PetrÃleo e GÃs Natural considerando os parÃmetros operacionais, suas caracterÃsticas metalÃrgicas e suas propriedades mecÃnicas. Foram fabricadas juntas dos aÃos AISI 8630M ou ASTM A182 F22 previamente amanteigados com a liga de nÃquel Inconel 625  ou com uma liga de aÃo baixo carbono comumente utilizada na soldagem do aÃo AISI 8630M. Foram utilizadas diferentes tÃcnicas de amanteigamento com e sem o uso de tratamentos tÃrmicos de alÃvio de tensÃes (TTAT). Para algumas das juntas amanteigadas sem TTAT foram depositadas camadas de amanteigamento de acordo com os parÃmetros sugeridos pelos testes de Higuchi e Higuchi modificado previamente realizados. Foram realizados ensaios de dureza, microdureza e de fratura para caracterizaÃÃo mecÃnica das interfaces de amanteigamento e, alÃm disso, foi realizada uma intensa caracterizaÃÃo microestrutural da mesma utilizando microscopia Ãtica, microscopia eletrÃnica de varredura e anÃlises de EDS e de EBSD. O teste de Higuchi mostrou-se uma boa opÃÃo para escolha dos parÃmetros de amanteigamento dos aÃos AISI 8630M e ASTM A182 F22. As juntas amanteigadas com condiÃÃes indicadas pelo teste de Higuchi apresentaram um intenso refino de grÃo na ZAC dos aÃos baixa liga, enquanto as juntas amanteigadas com condiÃÃes reprovadas apresentaram granulaÃÃo grosseira. A interface dissimilar apresentou composiÃÃo quÃmica intermediÃria entre os aÃos utilizados e a liga de nÃquel, sendo essa interface chamada de zona de alta diluiÃÃo (ZAD). As ZAD apresentaram pontos de microdureza elevada e, mesmo nas amostras submetidas a TTAT, nÃo foi possÃvel revenir essas regiÃes. A zona afetada pelo calor (ZAC) das amostras amanteigadas com parÃmetros indicados pelo teste de Higuchi e sem TTAT apresentou valores de dureza similares aos das amostras soldadas com parÃmetros reprovados no teste de Higuchi e com TTAT. Os ensaios de fratura indicaram que, de uma forma geral, o TTAT nÃo trouxe Ãs ZAC benefÃcios significativos relacionados à tenacidade dessas regiÃes e, alÃm disso, os mesmos podem comprometer a tenacidade da interface dissimilar. A anÃlise do caminho preferencial à propagaÃÃo das trincas indicou que o uso de TTAT tende a fragilizar a interface dissimilar, acredita-se que esse efeito està associado a difusÃo de carbono e possÃvel precipitaÃÃo de carbonetos durante esse tratamento. Acredita-se que essa possÃvel precipitaÃÃo pode ser ainda mais crÃtica quando à considerada uma fonte constante de hidrogÃnio para a junta (como em uma proteÃÃo catÃdica), essa hipÃtese traz à tona um questionamento a respeito da necessidade do uso de TTAT na fabricaÃÃo desse tipo de junta. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of welding technique in the AISI 8630M and ASTM A182 F22 steels applied in offshore structural components for Oil and Natural Gas sectors. Joints of AISI 8630M or ASTM A182 F22 were fabricated and previously buttered with nickel alloy Inconel 625  or an alloy of low carbon steel commonly used in welding of AISI 8630M. Different techniques of buttering were performed with and without post welding heat treatment (PWHT). For some of the joints buttered without PWHT, buttering layers were deposited in accordance with the welding parameters suggested by Higuchi and modified Higuchi tests previously performed. Mechanical tests (hardness, microhardness and fracture) were accomplished for buttering interfaces and an intense microstructural characterization (optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, EDS and EBSD) was realized. Higuchi test has been showed as a good option to select parameters for AISI 8630M and ASTM A182 F22 buttering. The joints that were buttered using the conditions indicated by Higuchi test showed an intense grain refinement in the HAZ of low alloy steels, while the ones that was buttered with the conditions disapproved showed a coarse granulation. The dissimilar interface showed off intermediate chemical composition between the steel and nickel alloy, and this interface was called high dilution zone (HDZ). The HDZ revealed points of high hardness and, even in samples subjected to PWHT was not possible to anneal these regions. The heat affected zone (HAZ) of the samples buttered using the parameters indicated by Higuchi (without PWHT) showed hardness values similar to those of the samples welded with parameters that failed in the Higuchi test and with PWHT. In general, fracture tests showed that the PWHT not bring significant toughnessâs benefits to the HAZ, furthermore, may impair the toughness of dissimilar interface. The analysis of the preferred path for cracks propagation showed that the use of PWHT tends to weak the dissimilar interface, possibly this effect is related to carbon diffusion and possible carbide precipitation during this treatment. It is believed that this precipitation can be even more critical when considering a constant supply of hydrogen to the board (as in a cathodic protection), this reinforces the use of buttering techniques without subsequent heat treatment in the manufacture of this type of joints.

This thesis entails a detailed microstructure analysis of directionally solidified (DS) Al-7Si alloys processed in microgravity aboard the International Space Station and similar duplicate ground based experiments at Cleveland State University. In recent years, the European Space Agency (ESA) has conducted experiments on alloy solidification in microgravity. NASA and ESA have collaborated for three DS experiments with Al- 7 wt. % Si alloy, aboard the International Space Station (ISS) denoted as MICAST6, MICAST7 and MICAST12. The first two experiments were processed on the ISS in 2009 and 2010. MICAST12 was processed aboard the ISS in the spring of 2014; the resulting experimental results of MICAST12 are not discussed in this thesis. The primary goal of the thesis was to understand the effect of convection in primary dendrite arm spacings (PDAS) and radial macrosegregation within DS aluminum alloys. The MICAST experiments were processed with various solidification speeds and thermal gradients to produce alloy with differences in microstructure features. PDAS and radial macrosegregation were measured in the solidified ingot that developed during the transition from one solidification speed to another. To represent PDAS in DS alloy in the presence of no convection, the Hunt-Lu model was used to represent diffusion-controlled growth. By sectioning cross-sections throughout the entire length of solidified samples, PDAS was measured and calculated. The ground-based (1-g) experiments done at Cleveland State University CSU were also analyzed for comparison to the ISS experiments (0-g). During steady state in the microgravity environment, there was a reasonable agreement between the measured and calculated PDAS. In ground-based experiments, transverse sections exhibited obvious radial macrosegregation caused by thermosolutal convection resulting in a non-agreement with the Hunt- Lu model. Using a combination of image processing techniques and Electron Microprobe Analysis, the extent of radial macrosegregation was found to be a function of processing conditions and PDAS.

This dissertation explores macrosegregation in directionally solidified aluminum castings. Two methods of interpolating thermocouple data are presented. A method using Lagrangian polynomials to interpolate thermocouple profiles is described and gives the best results for steady state furnace conditions. Using cubic splines to interpolate temperatures works best under transient conditions. A simple model, neglecting convection, is presented for predicting macrosegregation during melting, holding, and solidification of a sample and is compared with existing models. The model is able to accurately capture macrosegregation in microgravity experiments and is verified by experimental results. A two dimensional model of solidification, including convection, is presented and used to simulate samples grown in microgravity and terrestrially. The terrestrial samples exhibit steepling convection, while the microgravity samples do not. Causes of the steepling convection are explored and quantitative comparisons are made against experimental samples, with good agreement. The role of the furnace temperature profile is discussed and it is shown how it can be used to manipulate the steepling convection. Simulations of directional solidification through changes in cross section are presented for four experiments in graphite molds and one hypothetical experiment in an alumina mold. When solidifying through a contraction in cross section, the mold material is shown to have a strong influence on the convection and resulting macrosegregation. When solidifying out of an expansion, there is less of a difference between the two mold materials. Qualitative comparisons are made against experimentally obtained microstructures and good agreement is found. Stray grains were found, at the expansion, in some of the experimental samples and an explanation based on the results of the simulations is given.

Com a descoberta do prÃ-sal, a PetrobrÃs està cada vez mais investindo nas exploraÃÃes de petrÃleo em Ãguas profundas e ultra profundas, o que exige um grande dispÃndio em pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D) na Ãrea de produÃÃo. VÃrias estruturas submarinas sÃo soldadas e possuem juntas dissimilares, como por exemplo, em conexÃo de flowlines e risers rÃgidos com os flanges presentes em manifolds e Ãrvores de natal. Esses equipamentos sÃo geralmente protegidos com proteÃÃo catÃdica galvÃnica, a qual promove a liberaÃÃo de Ãons de hidrogÃnio na superfÃcie dos materiais. Esse hidrogÃnio adsorvido migra para regiÃo da junta susceptÃveis, facilitando a propagaÃÃo de defeitos, especialmente a trinca por hidrogÃnio. De uma forma geral este trabalho possui o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do procedimento de soldagem TIG com alimentaÃÃo de arame frio aplicado no amanteigamento dos aÃos AISI 8630M e ASTM A182 F22, considerando o uso do TTPS em diferentes condiÃÃes de soldagens de juntas dissimilares, bem como avaliar as caracterÃsticas metalÃrgicas e propriedades mecÃnicas da interface dissimilar do amanteigamento. Os materiais de base utilizados foram o AISI 8630M e o ASTM A182F22, soldados com a liga de nÃquel AWS ER NiCrMo-3 utilizando o processo TIG com alimentaÃÃo de arame frio. Em uma primeira etapa foram realizados os testes de Higuchi Convencional e Modificado, onde foram levantados os parÃmetros para aplicaÃÃo da tÃcnica da Dupla Camada. Na segunda etapa foram fabricadas juntas dissimilares com diferentes tÃcnicas de amanteigamento, utilizando os parÃmetros aprovados e reprovados nos testes de Higuchi, como tambÃm o uso ou nÃo do tratamento tÃrmico pÃs-soldagem TTPS. Em seguida, foram retiradas amostras para anÃlises dos fenÃmenos ocorridos na interface dissimilar, assim como, suas caracterÃsticas metalÃrgicas e mecÃnicas. Foi possÃvel, por meio dos testes de Higuchi Convencional e Modificado, determinar para o aÃo AISI 8630M e ASTM A 182 F22 relaÃÃes de parÃmetros de amanteigamento que, sem necessidade do uso do TTPS, resulte em zonas termicamente afetada (ZTA) bem refinadas e com durezas prÃximas da indicada por normas. As ZTA dos aÃos AISI 8630M e ASTM A182 F22 foram compostas basicamente por martensita revenida e bainita, respectivamente, onde foi observado um intenso refino de grÃos nas juntas amanteigadas com as relaÃÃes aprovadas nos testes de Higuchi Convencional e Modificado, enquanto que uma granulaÃÃo grosseira foi observada nas juntas com condiÃÃes reprovadas nos mesmos. Os ensaios de fratura indicaram que, de forma geral, os maiores valores do fator de intensidades de tensÃes (K) foram obtidos quando as pontas do entalhe estÃo localizadas dentro da ZTA. / With the discovery of the pre-salt, Petrobras is increasingly investing in oil explorations in deep water and ultra deep, which requires a large expenditure on research and development in the area of production. Several underwater structures are welded and have dissimilar joints, e.g. in connection of flow lines and risers with rigid flanges present in manifolds and Christmas trees. This equipment are generally protected with galvanic cathode protection, which promotes the release of hydrogen ions on the surface of materials. This adsorbed hydrogen migrates to the joint which region, facilitating the spread of defects, especially the fissure by hydrogen. In general this work has the objective to evaluate the effects of procedure GTAW welding with wire feed cold applied in buttering of AISI 8630M and ASTM A182 F22, considering the use of Post-Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) in different conditions for welding dissimilar joints, as well as evaluate the metallurgical characteristics and mechanical properties of dissimilar interface of buttering. The materials used were the AISI 8630M and ASTM A182F22, welded with the nickel alloy AWS ERNiCrMo-3 using the GTAW process with cold wire feed. In a first stage were carried Conventional and Modified Higuchi Test, where were raised the parameters for application of the technique of double layer. In the second stage were manufactured dissimilar joints with different buttering techniques, using the parameters approved and disapproved Higuchi tests, as well as the use of PWHT. Then, samples were taken for analysis of the phenomena occurring in dissimilar interface, as well as, metallurgical and mechanical characteristics. It was possible, through the of Conventional and Modified Higuchi Test, determine for Steel AISI 8630M and ASTM A 182 F22 buttering parameters relationships that, without the use of PWHT, resulting in heat affected zone (HAZ) well refined and hardness close indicated by standards. The HAZ AISI 8630M steel and ASTM A182 F22 were composed basically by tempering martensite and bainite, respectively, where it was observed an intense grain refining in the buttery joints with relations adopted in Higuchi tests while a coarse granulation was observed in the joints with disapproved on the same conditions. Fracture tests indicated that, overall, the highest values of stress intensity factor (K) were obtained when the ends of the notch are located inside the HAZ.

Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le projet PRINCIPIA (PRocédés INdustriels de Coulée Innovants Pour l'Industrie Aéronautique) de l’ANR MATETPRO (Matériaux et Procédés pour des Produits Performants). L'objectif de ce projet est la promotion de nouveaux alliages aluminium-cuivre-lithium à destination de l'industrie aéronautique afin d'apporter une alternative aux composites. Cependant, ces alliages sont sujet à une importante porosité pour deux raisons : une forte solubilité à l'hydrogène et une facilité d'oxydation. Dans ce projet, le but de la thèse était d'établir un modèle de prédiction de la porosité à l'échelle du produit. La porosité se forme lors de la solidification de l’alliage à cause d'une plus faible solubilité de l'hydrogène dans le solide. La teneur en hydrogène dans la phase liquide va augmenter par ségrégation et provoquer la nucléation des pores. Il est donc nécessaire de prendre en compte la solidification dans la modélisation de la porosité. De plus, la composition locales modifie la cinétique de croissance des pores et la microstructure exerce une contrainte mécanique sur les pores qui modifie leur équilibre chimique. Après une première partie consacrée à améliorer les connaissances sur les phénomène de transport dans la coulée semi-continue d'aluminium, nous avons modélisé la formation de porosité en se basant sur les modèles disponibles. Le modèle a reproduit l'inhomogénéité de la porosité observée expérimentalement sur une plaque d'alliage aluminium-magnésium. L'analyse nous a montré que la limitation de la croissance par le temps de diffusion de l'hydrogène était responsable de ce profil particulier. La densité volumique des pores est critique pour la limitation de la croissance par la diffusion de l’hydrogène. En fonction de la densité, la croissance passe d'une croissance limitée à une croissance non limitée / This thesis is part of the project PRINCIPIA (PRocédés INdustriels de Coulée Innovants Pour l'Industrie Aéronautique) of the ANR MATEPRO (MATériaux Et PROcédés pour des produits performants). The goal of this project is the promotion of new aluminum-copper-lithium alloys for the aeronautic industry in order to propose an alternative to composite materials. Unfortunately, these alloys are highly sensitive to the appearance of porosity during the alloy creation process. It is due to a high hydrogen solubility and oxidation. Inside this project, my work was to establish a porosity model at the scale of the ingot. Porosity starts to develop during the solidification process due to a lower solubility of hydrogen in the solid phase. Hydrogen content in liquid phase increases by segregation and leads to pores' nucleation. Thus, it is necessary to take into account solidification for porosity-modeling purposes. It is even more important because the alloys' local composition alters the pores' growth and the microstructure modifies the chemical equilibrium by pinching effect.After a first part dedicated to general improvement of knowledge about transport phenomena in DC casting, the porosity formation model was developed based on model found in literature. The model was able to reproduce the inhomogeneity experimentally observed in an aluminum-magnesium ingot. This profile is explained by the hydrogen diffusion time which limits the pore growth. The pore density is critical for the growth limitation by hydrogen diffusion. Depending on the density, the growth switch from a non limited to a limited growth.

This diploma thesis deals with segregation cycles in austenitic CrNi steels. In first section deals with theory of macrosegregation and microsegregation cycles. The second part is focused on this cycles in experimental casting. Macrosegregation was measured by spectrometric analyser and by MAGMA simulation program. Microsegregation was measured by electron microscope. The aim of this diploma thesis is verify the influence of setting conditions on heterogenity chemical composition in austenitic CrNi steel. For experimental casting with a wall thickness of about 500 mm will be verified effect of the setting time, residence time between solid and liquid phases and others parameters for macrosegregation and microsegregation in selected elements.

This thesis is dedicated to the field of manufacture of heavy steel castings with resulting properties which are influenced by long solidification time. During the long solidification time a segregation process of additives in the steel occurs which results in numerous metallurgical defects. The work was intended to observe the macrosegregation effects in the wall of a heavy experimental steel casting respectively a part of a real superheavy casting intended for cement furnaces (weight 210 t). The steel casting for the research was manufactured in the joint-stock company of VHM where such heavy castings are commonly produced for the market. The supplied piece of the steel casting was cut into the smaller pieces for the better examination. The examination resulted in information about the casting macrostructure and chemical heterogeneity of chosen elements in the casting wall. The heterogeneity of the chosen elements (C, Mn, Si, Cr, S, P) is clearly shown in the worked out visual concentration maps. Based on the experimental data the measured results of segregations were confronted with the results of segregation modelling with the use of the commercial simulation software ProCAST. It resulted in the conclusion that the prediction of segregations is not in accordance with the reality. Furthermore, the results from the experimental casting are shortly compared with previously manufactured castings of the same type and the results summarizing the found range of macrosegregations of the tested sample are interpreted in the work conclusion.

No description available.

In recent years there has been a growing demand to produce lightweight high pressure die cast (HPDC) parts for structural applications to decrease vehicle mass and to reduce manufacturing costs. Due to the coupled rapid heat flow and complex flow/deformation that occur in the process, the formation of microstructure and defects in HPDC are still not fully understood. Developing a better understanding of microstructure formation is essential to enable advances in die design and process optimisation, as well as alloy development, to improve the quality and productivity of HPDC components. Therefore, this thesis aims to enhance this understanding by conducting detailed microstructural analysis of samples produced in controlled HPDC experiments. In the first series of experiments, various microstructure characterisation techniques were used to study salient HPDC microstructural features. The microstructures of castings were characterised at different length scales, from the scale of the casting to the scale of the eutectic interlamellar spacing. The results show that the salient as-cast microstructural features, e.g. externally solidified crystals (ESCs), defect bands, surface layer, grain size distribution, porosity and hot tears were similar for both two HPDC-specific Al alloys used, AlSi4MgMn and AlMg5Si2Mn. The formation of these features has been explained by considering the influence of flow and solidification during each stage of the HPDC process. The formation of defect bands is further studied by investigating the ratio between band thickness ( ) and average grain size in the band ( ). Suitable methods for measuring w and dsb in HPDC have been developed. The w/dsb relationship of defect bands has been investigated in HPDC specimens from a range of alloys, casting geometries and band locations within castings. The bands were measured to be 7-18 mean grains wide. This is substantial evidence that defect bands form due to strain localisation in partially solidified alloys during cold-chamber and hot-chamber HPDC. At the end of solidification, dilatant shear bands contain a higher eutectic volume fraction and/or porosity content than adjacent material. In the cross-section of the AM50 Mg alloy, the centrally-located band contains a much higher volume fraction of concentrated porosity than the second-outermost band and insignificant porosity was found in the outermost band. The level of porosity in bands was attributed to the relative difficulty of feeding shrinkage for each band location. As the feeding of material during the intensification stage is important for the reduction of porosity, the influence of intensification pressure (IP) and gate thickness on the transport of material through the gate during the latter stages of HPDC were investigated. Microstructural characterisation of the gate region indicated a marked change in feeding mechanism with increasing IP and gate size. Castings produced with a high IP and/or thick gate contained a relatively low fraction of total porosity and shear band-like features existed through the gate, suggesting that semi-solid strain localisation in the gate is involved in feeding during the pressure intensification stage. When a low IP is combined with a thin gate, no shear band was observed in the gate and feeding was less effective, resulting in a higher level of porosity in the HPDC component. As equiaxed primary crystals are subjected to intense shear during HPDC, their agglomeration and bending behaviour were investigated in the last series of experiment. Samples produced by near-static cooling, HPDC and Thixomoulding®, where the solidifying crystals experience different levels of mechanical stresses, were characterised. The electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique was used to acquire grain misorientation data which is linked to the crystal agglomeration and bending behaviour during solidification. The number fraction of low-energy grain boundaries in HPDC and Thixomoulded samples was substantially higher than in ‘statically cooled’ samples. This is attributed to the much higher shear stresses and pressure applied on the solidifying alloy in HPDC and Thixomoulding, which promote crystal collisions and agglomeration. In-grain misorientations were found to be significant only in branched dendritic crystals which were subjected to significant shear stresses. This is related to the increased bending moment acting on long protruding dendrite arms compared to more compact crystal morphologies.