Modeling of Oxide Bifilms in Aluminum Castings
| Category | Publications |
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| Abstract | This work describes the collaboration research carried out during this IREE experience, which deals with the formation of defects during solidification of cast alloys, particularly those known as confluence welds in Aluminum A356 alloys. During the casting process, the separation of metal fronts can produce cracks upon rejoining of the fronts due to the interaction of oxide films. This phenomenon is evident in the case of multiple gating systems, which can lead to the confluence of several flow fronts causing possible regions of failure. The casting of thin plates for three gating configurations have been modeled for this project as a means of comparing the simulation results with the castings made in the foreign counterpart's foundry. From each of the cast plates, microstructural data will be obtained in order to determine the differences in characteristics of each casting using various input parameters. Currently, research has been started on one of the three gating designs and on selected castings which had apparent confluence welds on the surface. As this research continues and microstructural information is collected from all the cast parts, they will be tested and analyzed to detect possible failure regions resulting from the prescribed defects. From this collaboration, it is anticipated that the analysis of the experimental data and modeling results will provide information about the effect of process parameters on confluence welds, thus improving gating design. |
| Contributor | Mourad Ouzzani
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| Bio | Ratessiea Lett received the Associates Degree in Arts and Sciences from Jefferson Davis Community College in 2005 and the B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 2008. She has recently begun graduate studies as a doctoral student at MSU in the field of Mechanical Engineering and will also complete requirements for the Materials Science Certificate while pursing the PhD.
Sergio D. Felicelli received a Nuclear Engineer degree from Instituto Balseiro (Argentina) in 1985 and a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1991. He is currently an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University and has held positions at the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission and Saint-Gobain Ceramics and Plastics. His research areas are modeling of solidification processes, computational mechanics and transport phenomena. |
| Cite this work | Researchers should cite this work as follows: R. L. Lett and S. D. Felicelli, "Modeling of Oxide Bifilms in Aluminum Castings", Trip report presented at the NSF IREE 2008 Grantees Conference, May 2008, Washington, D.C. |
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