Numerical Investigation of Inclusion‐Induced Stress in Continuously Cast Bloom During Soft Reduction

To investigate the effect of inclusions on local stress distribution during the multipass soft reduction of GCr15 blooms, a finite element model was established based on a 300 × 400 mm bloom caster. The model incorporated the main technological parameters of the straightening and withdrawal process and employed an explicit dynamic formulation together with an elastoplastic constitutive model to evaluate the stress evolution in the bloom and the inclusion‐induced stress concentration. The bloom undergoes inhomogeneous deformation through the thickness during soft reduction. The maximum stress reaches 755.7 MPa in the roll bite region. For spherical MnS and Al 2 O 3 inclusions, the maximum matrix stress is mainly concentrated in the tangential direction relative to the compression loading. Under identical conditions, TiN inclusions induce the highest peak stress of 2181.5 MPa, followed by Al 2 O 3 inclusions with a peak stress of 742.7 MPa, while MnS inclusions produce the lowest stress concentration. Compared with isolated inclusions, adjacent inclusions cause more severe stress superposition in the surrounding matrix. As the spacing between two Al 2 O 3 inclusions decreases from 5 to 1 μm, the peak stress increases from 864.5 to 1305.4 MPa, indicating an increased risk of local crack initiation.