Numerical investigation of basic oxygen furnace slag modification with gas bottom-blowing and SiO_(2) modifier

To avoid the volume expansion of basic oxygen furnace (BOF) slag for use in building materials, a hot slag modification process was proposed to reduce free CaO (f-CaO) in the molten slag. A transient 3D numerical model of BOF molten slag modification by SiO_(2) particles was established. The flow and heat transfer of molten slag, movement and dissolution of the modifier, and concentration distribution of f-CaO in slag during the modification of BOF were studied. The distribution of f-CaO concentration is inhomogeneous all over the molten slag. The mixing effect at the slag surface is weaker than that at the half-height plane of the slag. To consume the f-CaO below 2.0 wt.% in the slag, the optimum quantity of the SiO_(2) modifier is 10.0% of the mass of the slag. The fine SiO_(2) particles help attain a lower final mass fraction of f-CaO and a higher SiO_(2) utilization ratio.

Arc-length technique for nonlinear finite element analysis

Nonlinear solution of reinforced concrete structures, particularly complete load-deflection response, requires tracing of the equilibrium path and proper treatment of the limit and bifurcation points. In this regard, ordinary solution techniques lead to instability near the limit points and also have problems in case of snap-through and snap-back. Thus they fail to predict the complete load-displacement response. The arc-length method serves the purpose well in principle, received wide acceptance in finite element analysis, and has been used extensively. However modifications to the basic idea are vital to meet the particular needs of the analysis. This paper reviews some of the recent developments of the method in the last two decades, with particular emphasis on nonlinear finite element analysis of reinforced concrete structures.