A computational model for inelastic behaviour and fracture of refractory industrial components under high-temperature conditions, application to slide gate plates

Abstract

This work aims to provide a computational model that can describe the complex behaviour of refractory industrial components under working conditions. Special attention is given to the asymmetric tension-compression behaviour and its evolution in the full range of working temperatures. The model accounts for inelastic flow in compression and brittle fracture behaviour in tension by leveraging the continuum-mechanics theory of plasticity and phase-field fracture damage. The model is implemented in the Finite Element open-source platform FEniCS and is used to analyze the fracture phenomenon in the refractory plate used in ladle slide gate systems to control the liquid steel flow from the ladle to the tundish.

Figures (4)

• Figure 1: Field picture of a slide gate. The component highlighted in yellow is part of the plate fixture, and it is usually referred to as a horseshoe. Picture liberally taken from the website of VesuviusLadleGates.
• Figure 2: Schematic representation of the thermo-mechanical boundary conditions for the chosen case study. The plate bore is subjected to heating convective boundary conditions, while the external edge is subjected to cooling. The symmetry boundary is considered adiabatic and constrained in displacement orthogonal to it, while two portions of the external boundary are considered pinned.
• Figure 3: Damage and accumulated plastic deformation in slide gate plate geometry subjected to thermal-shock conditions.
• Figure 4: Temperature evolution in slide gate plate geometry subjected to thermal-shock conditions.