Thermal distortion in copper moulds for continuous casting of steel: numerical study on creep and plasticity effect

In this work, the thermal distortion of a copper mould for continuous casting of steel is investigated through numerical models based on the finite element method. Special attention is devoted to the accuracy of the adopted material properties: several elasto-plastic models, with or without creep effects, are considered and compared into the analysis. The early formation of a bulge close to the meniscus is correctly simulated and results are in good agreement with experimental data from the literature.