Abstract
Dimensional defects of castings are mainly due to the stresses and strains caused by a nonuniform temperature distribution and phase transformation during solidification and cooling, and by mechanical constraint between the mold and casting. It is, however, nearly impossible to trace movements of the casting and mold during solidification and cooling by experimental measurements for castings with complex shape. Two and three dimensional deformation analyses of the casting and the mold were performed using commercial finite element code, MARC. It was possible to calculate deformation and temperature distribution in the casting and mold simultaneously. Cooling curves of the casting obtained by calculation were close to that measured in the field since it was possible to treat latent heat evolution of the casting which could be divided into two parts, primary and eutectic parts. Mold bent inward just after pouring due to the temperature gradient across the mold thickness, and mold returned to its previous position with time. Plastic deformation occurred at the part of the casting where solidification was slow.