A thermomechanical finite element model for simulating the solidification process of squeeze casting.

A coupled thermomechanical finite element model has been developed to simulate the temperature, stress and shape development during the solidification process of squeeze casting. In the model, the effect of latent heat and volume shrinkage due to solidification, and the mutual dependence of interfacial heat transfer and casting deformation were taken into account. A thermo-elasto-viscoplastic constitutive model was adopted for simulating the response of the solidified shell to the squeeze pressure, and an iterative approach was employed to calculate the displacement of the punch in each time step. The model can be used to investigate the evolution of temperature and stress distribution in the casting during the solidification process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]