Analysis on morphology and stress concentration in continuous casting bloom to learn the formation and propagation of internal cracks induced by soft reduction technology

Abstract

The crack formation and propagation were analysed according to actual internal crack morphology and the finite element model simulation of stress concentration. The results showed that most cracks were distributed along the transverse and the longitudinal section of the bloom. Distinct differences between these two major types of cracks were found in dimension and inclination, which were owing to different local stress concentrations. In the longitudinal section of the bloom, shear stress was concentrated in the brittle temperature region, which led to the formation of initial cracks and subsequently cracks propagation. Meanwhile, the maximum tensile stress occurred at the edge between the brittle temperature region and surrounding material, which resulted in crack formation and propagation along the transverse section of the bloom. This phenomenon was due to the obvious bulging deformation of the solidified shell induced by soft reduction.