Simulation of stray grain formation at the platform during Ni-base single crystal superalloy DD403 casting

The mechanism of stray grain formation at the platform of turbine blade simulator and the effect of withdrawal rate(V) on the stray grain phenomenon have been investigated using a macro-scale Pro CAST coupled with a 3D Cellular Automaton Finite Element(CAFE) model. The results indicate that the stray grains nucleate at the edges of platform at V =150 μm·s^(-1) and 200 μm·s^(-1). Using Pro CAST computer simulation software, it was proven that the stray grain formation is signifi cantly dependent on the undercooling and the temperature fi eld distribution in the platform. The macroscopic curvature of the liquidus isotherm becomes markedly concave with an increase in the withdrawal rate. The probability of stray grain formation at the edges of platform can be increased by increasing the withdrawal rate in the range of 70 μm·s^(-1) to 200 μm·s^(-1).

Effect of mould baffle technology on stray grain formation in single crystal blades by integral fabrication based on 3D printing

Stray grains,the most serious casting defect,mainly occur in the platform because of the abrupt transition of the cross-section in the directional solidification of superalloy single-crystal blades.A new mould baffle technology based on 3D printing and gelcasting is proposed herein to reduce the formation of stray grains in the platform.The influence of the proposed mould baffle technology on the temperature field in the platform during solidification was investigated by simulation and experiment.The numerical simulation results indicate that the proposed mould baffle technology can effectively hinder the radiation and heat dissipation at the platform extremities,and therefore,reduce undercooling in the platform and the formation of stray grains during directional solidification.Casting trials of a hollow turbine blade were conducted using CMSX-4 superalloy.The trial results demonstrate the potential of the proposed approach for manufacturing single-crystal superalloy blades.

Influence of platform position on stray grain nucleation in Ni-based single-crystal dummy blade clusters

Stray grains are the most severe of the solidification defects that occur in the industrial single-crystal blade preparation process.In this study,a single-crystal dummy blade cluster with different crystal orientations controlled by the seeding method was prepared,and the influence of the position of the circular platform(relative to the sample and furnace body)on stray grain nucleation was investigated.Results show that the microstructure of the circular platforms could be divided into the center,expansion,and stray grain regions.The inside of the circular platform facing the center of the cluster is more prone to stray grain formation than the outside of the circular platform facing the furnace body.With an increase in the distance between the circular platform and the bottom of the dummy blade cluster,the stray grain region expands,whereas the expansion region narrows.The stray grain is slightly aggravated with increase of the misorientation.Finally,the mechanism underlying the influence of platform position on the formation of stray grains in single-crystal dummy blade clusters is discussed based on the temperature evolution during directional solidification.

Prediction of Dendrite Orientation and Stray Grain Distribution in Laser Surface-melted Single Crystal Superalloy

A vectorization analysis technique for crystal growth and microstructure development in single-crystal weld was developed in our previous work. Based on the vectorization method, crystal growth and stray grain distribution in laser surface remelting of single crystal superalloy CMSX-4 were investigated in com- bination of simulations with experimental observations. The energy distribution of laser was taken into consideration in this research. The experimental results demonstrate that the simulation model applies well in the prediction of dendrite growth direction. Moreover, the prediction of stray grain distribution works well except for the region of dendrites growing along the [100] direction.

Effects of Substrate Crystallographic Orientations on Microstructure in Laser Surface-Melted Single-Crystal Superalloy:Theoretical Analysis

A geometric analysis technique for crystal growth and microstructure development in single-crystal welds had been previously developed.And the effect of welding conditions on the tendency of stray grains formation during solidification was researched.In the present work,these analytical methods were further extended.Combined with an original vectorization method,a 3D Rosenthal solution was used to determine thermal conditions of the welds.Afterward,the dendrite growth orientation,the dendrite growth velocity and the thermal gradient along dendrite direction were calculated and lively plotted.Finally,the tendency of stray grains formation in the solidification front was forecasted and its distribution was presented with a 3D plot.The results indicate that substrate orientation has some impacts on the crystal growth pattern,dendrite growth velocity,distribution of thermal gradient and stray grain.Based on the research methods proposed in this work,any substrate crystallographic orientation can be studied,and predicted stray grains distribution can be visualized.