Mold Casting
In mold casting, molten aluminum is poured into a cavity in the desired product shape. When the hot aluminum comes into contact with the mold its temperature quickly decreases. This leads to a progressive solidification of the product that is being manufactured. Mold designers typically face the challenge of ensuring that all the sections of the mold cavity are properly filled, no matter the local temperature of the aluminum or how narrow a flow section might be.
Fluent products allow mold designers to follow the molten aluminum as it is poured into the mold. This allows designers to identify possible defects due to trapped air, excessive cooling of the metal and possible deformations of the mold under the combined action of the high temperature and high pressure. Mold designers are also able to see regions of folding free surface that may entrap air bubbles, breaking free surfaces that may lead to excessive oxidation of the metal and the progressive solidification of the aluminum.
Typical applications using Fluent's software include non-isothermal turbulent flow combined with the calculation of the free surface front for a 3D transient process. Advanced features such as complex thermal effect involving radiation or the interaction with the surrounding air can also be performed in Fluent's user-friendly products.
