Analysis of solidification cracking using the specific crack susceptibility

Using a 2-dimensional finite element, the effects of carbon content, slab width, narrow face taper and casting speed on solidification cracking during continuous casting of slabs were analyzed. The possibility of solidification cracking during continuous casting of slabs was predicted using the "Specific Crack Susceptibility", S-S(C). The new proposed parameter, SS,, can represent the averaged possibility of solidification cracking of the strand during continuous casting in the mold. The surface, crack formed near corner region of strand at the initial stage of solidification, and the internal crack was found in the internal regions of wide center, corner and off-corner at the middle and final stage of solidification. The carbon range sensitive to solidication cracking is between 0.1 wt% C and 0.14 wt% C steels. At the slab widths of 1 900 mm and 2 150 mm,the possibility of solidification cracking increased in the regions of wide center, corner and off-corner in comparison with the slab width of 1 600 mm. With increasing narrow face taper, the possibility of solidification cracking decreased along the region of wide face due to the mechanical compression imposed by the narrow face taper. With increasing casting speed, the possibility of solidification cracking increased in the regions of wide center, corner and off-corner, because the shell thickness is largely decreased due to decrease of dwelling time of strand within the mold. These predictions at various casting conditions were in good agreement with the experimental observations in industry.