Numerical simulation of transport phenomena in electromagnetically stirred semi-solid materials processing

Abstract

A continuum based integrated mathematical model is developed to analyse momentum, heat and solute transport during an electromagnetically stirred semi-solid materials processing operation. Separate conservation equations are solved to determine the solid phase velocity. Simultaneously, a solid fraction transport equation is solved to take into account the transport of fragmented dendrites and solidification of liquid phases present in the respective elemental volumes. Numerical simulations are performed to reveal the relative contributions of buoyancy and electromagnetic forces. The mathematical model is also tested by confronting present numerical results with reported experimental observations; an excellent agreement can be observed in this regard, thereby establishing the authenticity of the proposed formulation.