Modelling dynamics of composite suspension during casting in electromagnetic field

S. Golak - A. Kachel

Faculty of Materials Engineering and Metallurgy, Silesian University of Technology, Krasinskiego 8, 40-019 Katowice, Poland

Abstract
The paper presents a model of casting of a metal matrix composite reinforced with non-conducting particles under an alternating electromagnetic field. A characteristic feature of this process is the formation of areas of high concentration of reinforcement particles as a result of the action of electromagnetic separation. The conductivity of these areas is substantially different from the conductivity of the particle-free regions. This causes a change in electromagnetic field distribution during the process and makes to consider in its model the strong coupling of electromagnetic field, hydrodynamic field of the composite matrix and of dynamics of reinforcement particles. The high concentration of particles and its influence on the local suspension conductivity motivates to apply the Eulerian approach in reinforcement dynamics modelling instead of the usually used Lagrangian approach. The developed model enables to analyze the course of the process and to reveal phenomena which are virtually impossible to reveal by available measurement methods. The paper presents results of numerical simulations of the casting of an aluminum sleeve reinforced with SiC particles. Tables 1, Figs 4, Refs 19.