Improved thermal stress analysis for castings

Three algorithms are presented to address three problems in stress analysis of castings: difficulties for enmeshment of complicated casting into finite element meshes, coupling of thermal and stress analysis, and determination of inverse deformation, respectively. An algorithm of conversion of finite difference meshes into finite element meshes is achieved by reformatting the data of meshes. An algorithm of the heat transfer coefficient at the casting/mould interface is presented and the coupling of thermal and stress analysis is realised with the feedback of stress and deformation to heat transfer. Machining allowance is applied as a criterion for deformation evaluation of castings. And insufficient machining allowance is transformed to inverse deformation which is fed back to the original casting design for recalculation of stress and deformation. Therefore, the design of casting with appropriate inverse deformation is obtained. Case studies about a cylinder block and a hydro turbine blade casting are illustrated.