A Model for Diagnosing the Formation of Internal Cracks in Continuously Cast Slabs

The internal cracks in continuously cast slabs are attributed to the excessive tensile strain occurring at the solidifying front during the continuous casting process. Based on the understanding, a model for diagnosing the formation of the internal cracks was established, in which the strains at the solidifying front caused by bulging, straightening or unbending, and roll misalignment were calculated and compared with a critical strain value to estimate whether the internal cracks form. Moreover, the established model was applied to a real slab caster to reveal the distribution of the strains in casting direction and its effect on the internal cracks. It was proved that the model was reliable and useful for optimizing the operation of continuous casting.