A MODIFIED NETWORK APPROACH FOR MODELING SOLIDIFICATION OF COMPLEX-SHAPED DOMAINS

• Published in: Numerical heat transfer. Part B, Fundamentals Fundamentals, 2000-07, Vol.38 (1), p.75-92
• Main Author: Jaime Alvares Spim Jr, Amauri Garcia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analytical and numerical techniques; Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Foundry engineering; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Heat flow in porous media; Heat transfer; Heat transfer in inhomogeneous media, in porous media, and through interfaces; Metals. Metallurgy; Other casting methods. Solidification; Physics; Production techniques
• ISSN: 1040-7790; 1521-0626
• DOI: 10.1080/10407790050131570

The finite-difference method is widely used in the formulation of a mathematical representation of the solidification process in metal/mold systems. When complex geometries have to be analyzed, precision of simulations will depend on a multigrid computational scheme covering the spatial domain, which can represent a significant increase in computational time. The present work proposes an approach that modifies the finite-difference network from thermal to electrical elements, permitting a flexible and versatile representation and connection between grid patterns, and consequently an easier transmittal of information at these boundaries. Results of simulations have shown that the proposed approach provides good numerical accuracy and substantial savings in computational time and computer storage requirements, due mainly to the significant reduction of number of elements within the computational domain.