Jakub Hajkowski

Problem of Acceptability of Internal Porosity in Semi-Finished Cast Product as New Trend "Tolerance of Damage" Present in Modern Design Office

Discontinuities in cast products, obtained from a liquid state of an alloy, are the result of phenomena occurring during multiphase system crystallization. On the one hand, compacted defects as a shrinkage pipe are relatively easy to eliminate. On the other hand, it is known that presence of fine shrinkage and gas porosity is unavoidable. Detectability of these dispersed discontinuities depends on type of inspection method applied. Structure, including intensity and location of porosity zones, is dependent on the type of the alloy, casting configuration and conception of technological solution, related with control of velocity of the heat extraction to the mould. Thus, mechanical properties in the volume of a casting are not homogenous and are strongly reduced only in the zones of porosity. However, in strength calculations of cast products, this obvious fact is not taken into consideration. The rule of material homogeneity is applied instead, along with drastic increase of factor of safety. The paper indicates benefits of precise determination of limits of porosity zones located in the casting, using the NTD methods (for example, Phased Array ultrasonic tomography). Coordinates of porosity zones in 3D, introduced into CAD geometry and assigned with different properties allow to estimate the actual state of stress and strain of real object using FEM methods (systems like Ansys, Comsol). Load justified by operating conditions and application of tolerance of damage rule, with simultaneous reference to the limited state of stress according to LOV (Loss of Volume) and LEFM (Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics) methods should find their place in design procedures of cast products, which will allow for better use of material and reduction of weight of the casting. This approach, named Tolerance of damage concerning the castings is the motto of this paper.

Sensitivity of Models Applied in Selected Simulation Systems with Respect to Database Quality for Resolving of Casting Problems

This paper highlights permanent development of process virtualization in the mechanical engineering industry, especially in the area of foundry. Virtualization is increasingly developed on the stage of product design and materials technologies optimization. Simultaneously, increasing expectations of design and process engineers regarding the practical effectiveness of applied simulation systems is observed. To enhance the knowledge in the scope of modelling and simulation in the foundry processes, one should be acquainted with the hard modelling based on physical-mathematical formula and also the soft modelling, burdened with simplifications resulting from both knowledge level on description of particular phenomena and level of theirs complexity. The trends observed in modelling of foundry processes and expectations of users compared with creators upgraded propositions new, additional modules based mostly on poorly tested theory are discussed. In such cases, each new module should be tested on sensitivity of additional parameters, which appear in these new modules. If needed and possible, these tests ought to be related to validation of the whole complex model containing such new modules. The purpose is to obtain simulation tools allowing the most possible realistic prognosis of the casting structure, including indication, with the highest possible probability, places in the casting that are endangered with the possibility of a gas and shrinkage porosity formation. These problems with elements of model validation are presented in the paper.

Mechanical Properties Gradient Existing in Real Castings Taken into Account during Design of Cast Components

The problem concerns the structure and properties heterogeneity of cast products, on the example of the Al-Si (A356) alloy. The trends of usage of this knowledge by constructors of that kind of products are described in this paper. It is well known that soundness of cast products is a postulate formulated by designers and users of machines and devices, where castings are among important parts. It is often forgotten though, that perfect soundness (density) of the cast material in ready for use parts simply does not exist. The gas and shrinkage porosities, present in semi-finished casting products, obtained from a liquid state of an alloy is the result of phenomena occurring during multiphase metallic system crystallization. Still, general introduction of the tolerance of damage rule requires knowledge about casting technology, inspection of the state of discontinuity of casting structure. The use of coupled experimental researches (including NDT non-destructive testing and local mechanical properties of castings) and simulation tests (Procast, ANSYS) have shown how the properties gradient influences on the safety factor distribution in the casting subjected by chosen load.

Prediction of HPDC Casting Properties Made of AlSi9Cu3 Alloy

The paper describes the influence of type of structure and its parameters on mechanical properties of high-pressure die-casting (HPDC) products out of AlSi9Cu3 alloy. The dendritic structure was described using the DAS parameter—a distance between branches of dendrites of a solid α solution (silicon in aluminium), which is a measure of microstructure refinement. According to the Hall–Petch law, the smaller grain causes the better strength. The finest grained structure can be obtained by increasing the rate of heat extraction from a casting to a mould. The best results, considering the classical methods, can be achieved using the high-pressure die-casting method. Therefore, results of studies of mechanical properties of sample castings, made using the above-mentioned casting method, are presented. The sample castings (cast-on samples) were subjected to tensile tests to determine mechanical properties (tensile strength, yield strength and elongation), as well as microstructure studies, considering the DAS. Experimental-simulation validation was performed using the Procast code with the application of a micromodel in the scope of compatibility of the DAS value and yield strength.

Identification of Casting Conditions Influence on the Structure and Properties of Al-Si-X Alloy Castings by Experimental and Virtual Way

The paper describes influence of the structure type and its parameters on the mechanical properties of cast products (not subjected to plastic forming), made out of Al-Si-X alloys. The special attention has been focused on the dendritic structure parameters: dendritic arms spacing of the first order (DAS 1) and the second order (DAS 2). The results of investigations of mechanical properties of the test castings made using three basic casting technologies: gravity sand casting (GSC), gravity die casting (GDC) and high pressure die casting (HPDC), are presented. All the castings were made out of the same AlSi9Cu3 alloy. The test castings (adherent samples and separately cast samples) were subjected to a static tensile test and their mechanical properties were determined. In the next stage, the samples fractures and zones near the fractures (metallographic specimen) were subjected to visual testing, penetrating testing PT and metallographic microscopic tests. The microstructure, including the size of the DAS 2, was determined. Evaluation of the porosity state was also undertaken. A customer casting was also manufactured and subjected to the metallographic, tomographic (CT) and strength tests. The castings solidification simulation tests were performed for all the three casting technologies (GSC, GDC and HPDC) using the Nova Flow &Solid system. The results were used for estimation of the correlation between the cooling rate of the particular casting solidifying in the above mentioned mould types and for the DAS size. The coupled influence of the structure parameters on the mechanical properties, regarding the occurrence of porosity, was also analyzed.

Gas- and Shrinkage Porosities in Al-Si High-Pressure Die-Castings - Virtualization and Experimental Validation

The porosity (void caused by technological reasons) in engineering materials always decrease their mechanical characteristics and usually affects the deterioration of the functional mechanical characteristics of the finished products. In the castings the porosity resulting from the specific casting processes phenomena occurs inevitably in the matrix structure. The paper shows this problem in relation to the High-Pressure-Die-Casting (HPDC) technology of Al-Si alloy. The analysis of the experimental results and the results from virtualization of HPDC process allowed to assess the effectiveness of this mixed scenario and improve the quality predictions probability for HPDC, with particular consideration of shrinkage and gas porosities. The problem of the tolerance (admissibility) of porosity occurrence in castings and the castings made of liquid Al-Si alloy to which the gas (hydrogen) was introduced intentionally are signalized.