Sign in to use this feature.

Years

Between: -

Subjects

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (70)

Search Parameters:
Keywords = steel-slag interface

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
17 pages, 6395 KiB  
Article
Fe–P Alloy Production from High-Phosphorus Oolitic Iron Ore via Efficient Pre-Reduction and Smelting Separation
by Mengjie Hu, Deqing Zhu, Jian Pan, Zhengqi Guo, Congcong Yang, Siwei Li and Wen Cao
Minerals 2025, 15(8), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15080778 - 24 Jul 2025
Viewed by 221
Abstract
Diverging from conventional dephosphorization approaches, this study employs a novel pre-reduction and smelting separation (PR-SS) to efficiently co-recover iron and phosphorus from high-phosphorus oolitic iron ore, directly yielding Fe–P alloy, and the Fe–P alloy shows potential as feedstock for high-phosphorus weathering steel or [...] Read more.
Diverging from conventional dephosphorization approaches, this study employs a novel pre-reduction and smelting separation (PR-SS) to efficiently co-recover iron and phosphorus from high-phosphorus oolitic iron ore, directly yielding Fe–P alloy, and the Fe–P alloy shows potential as feedstock for high-phosphorus weathering steel or wear-resistant cast iron, indicating promising application prospects. Using oolitic magnetite concentrate (52.06% Fe, 0.37% P) as feedstock, optimized conditions including pre-reduction at 1050 °C for 2 h with C/Fe mass ratio of 2, followed by smelting separation at 1550 °C for 20 min with 5% coke, produced a metallic phase containing 99.24% Fe and 0.73% P. Iron and phosphorus recoveries reached 99.73% and 99.15%, respectively. EPMA microanalysis confirmed spatial correlation between iron and phosphorus in the metallic phase, with undetectable phosphorus signals in vitreous slag. This evidence suggests preferential phosphorus enrichment through interfacial mass transfer along the pathway of the slag phase to the metal interface and finally the iron matrix, forming homogeneous Fe–P solid solutions. The phosphorus migration mechanism involves sequential stages: apatite lattice decomposition liberates reactive P2O5 under SiO2/Al2O3 influence; slag–iron interfacial co-reduction generates Fe3P intermediates; Fe3P incorporation into the iron matrix establishes stable solid solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 18567 KiB  
Article
Mitigation of Black Streak Defects in AISI 304 Stainless Steel via Numerical Simulation and Reverse Optimization Algorithm
by Xuexia Song, Xiaocan Zhong, Wanlin Wang and Kun Dou
Materials 2025, 18(14), 3414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18143414 - 21 Jul 2025
Viewed by 308
Abstract
The formation mechanism of black streak defects in hot-rolled steel sheets was investigated to address the influence of the process parameters on the surface quality during the production of 304 stainless steels. Macro-/microstructural characterization revealed that the defect regions contained necessary mold slag [...] Read more.
The formation mechanism of black streak defects in hot-rolled steel sheets was investigated to address the influence of the process parameters on the surface quality during the production of 304 stainless steels. Macro-/microstructural characterization revealed that the defect regions contained necessary mold slag components (Ca, Si, Al, Mg, Na, K) which originated from the initial stage of solidification in the mold region of the continuous casting process, indicating obvious slag entrapment during continuous casting. On this basis, a three-dimensional coupled finite-element model for the molten steel flow–thermal characteristics was established to evaluate the effects of typical casting parameters using the determination of the critical slag entrapment velocity as the criterion. Numerical simulations demonstrated that the maximum surface velocity improved from 0.29 m/s to 0.37 m/s with a casting speed increasing from 1.0 m/min to 1.2 m/min, which intensified the meniscus turbulence. However, the increase in the port angle and the depth of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN) effectively reduced the maximum surface velocity to 0.238 m/s and 0.243 m/s, respectively, with a simultaneous improvement in the slag–steel interface temperature. Through MATLAB (version 2023b)-based reverse optimization combined with critical velocity analysis, the optimal mold slag properties were determined to be 2800 kg/m3 for the density, 4.756 × 10−6 m2/s for the kinematic viscosity, and 0.01 N/m for the interfacial tension. This systematic approach provides theoretical guidance for process optimization and slag design enhancement in industrial production. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 6255 KiB  
Article
Effect of Steel Slag Fine Aggregate on the Seismic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Columns with Steel Slag Sand
by Tianhai Zhao, Dongling Zhang, Qiang Jin, Sen Li and Xuanxuan Liu
Buildings 2025, 15(11), 1769; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15111769 - 22 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 360
Abstract
Steel slag aggregate (SSA), as a high-performance and sustainable material, has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the mechanical properties of concrete and improving the bond behavior between reinforcement and the concrete matrix, thereby contributing to the seismic resilience of steel slag concrete columns [...] Read more.
Steel slag aggregate (SSA), as a high-performance and sustainable material, has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing the mechanical properties of concrete and improving the bond behavior between reinforcement and the concrete matrix, thereby contributing to the seismic resilience of steel slag concrete columns (SSCCs). Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism through which SSA influences the seismic performance of SSCCs remains insufficiently understood, and current analytical models fail to accurately capture the effects of bond strength on structural behavior. In this study, a comprehensive experimental program comprising central pull-out tests and quasi-static cyclic loading tests was conducted to investigate the influence of SSA on bond strength and the seismic response of SSCCs. Key seismic performance indicators, including the hysteresis curve, equivalent viscous damping ratio, and ductility coefficient, were evaluated. The role of bond strength in governing energy dissipation and ductility characteristics was elucidated in detail. The results indicate that bond strength significantly affects the seismic performance of SSCC components. At an SSA replacement ratio of 40%, the specimens show optimal performance: energy dissipation capacity increases by 11.3%, bond–slip deformation in the plastic hinge region decreases by 10%, and flexural deformation capacity improves by 9% compared to the control group. However, when the SSA replacement exceeds 60%, the performance metrics are similar to those of ordinary concrete, showing no significant advantages. Based on the experimental findings, a modified bond–slip constitutive model for the steel slag concrete–reinforcement interface is proposed. Furthermore, a finite element model incorporating bond–slip effects is developed, and its numerical predictions exhibit strong agreement with the experimental results, effectively capturing the lateral load-carrying capacity and stiffness degradation behavior of SSCCs. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5821 KiB  
Article
Experimental Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Geopolymer Recycled Aggregate Concrete Reinforced with Steel-Polypropylene Hybrid Fiber
by Lili Ma, Cheng Zhen, Qingxin Zeng and Biao Li
Buildings 2025, 15(10), 1723; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15101723 - 19 May 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 465
Abstract
Geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (GRAC) is an eco-friendly material utilizing industrial byproducts (slag, fly ash) and substituting natural aggregates with recycled aggregates (RA). Incorporating steel-polypropylene hybrid fibers into GRAC to produce hybrid-fiber-reinforced geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (HFRGRAC) can bridge cracks across multi-scales and [...] Read more.
Geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (GRAC) is an eco-friendly material utilizing industrial byproducts (slag, fly ash) and substituting natural aggregates with recycled aggregates (RA). Incorporating steel-polypropylene hybrid fibers into GRAC to produce hybrid-fiber-reinforced geopolymer recycled aggregate concrete (HFRGRAC) can bridge cracks across multi-scales and multi-levels to synergistically improve its mechanical properties. This paper aims to investigate the mechanical properties of HFRGRAC with the parameters of steel fiber (SF) volume fraction (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%) and aspect ratio (40, 60, 80), polypropylene fiber (PF) volume fraction (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%), and RA substitution rate (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%) considered. Twenty groups of HFRGRAC specimens were designed and fabricated to evaluate the compressive splitting tensile strengths and flexural behavior emphasizing failure pattern, load–deflection curve, and toughness. The results indicated that adding SF enhances the specimen ductility, mechanical strength, and flexural toughness, with improvements proportional to SF content and aspect ratio. In contrast, a higher percentage of RA substitution increased fine cracks and reduced mechanical performance. Moreover, the inclusion of PF causes cracks to exhibit a jagged profile while slightly improving the concrete strength. The significant synergistic effect of SF and PF on mechanical properties of GRAC is observed, with SF playing a dominant role due to its high elasticity and crack-bridging capacity. However, the hydrophilic nature of SF combined with the hydrophobic property of PF weakens the bonding of the fiber–matrix interface, which degrades the concrete mechanical properties to some extent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation)
Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 13619 KiB  
Article
Performance Optimization and Field Validation of Post-Grouting Geopolymer Materials for Pile Foundations: Microstructural Insights and Environmental Durability
by Chongchong He, Zhen Xu, Jing Wang, Pan Li, Yangyang Xia, Chao Zhang, Zhenpeng Chen and Wei He
Buildings 2025, 15(7), 1121; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15071121 - 29 Mar 2025
Viewed by 441
Abstract
To investigate the potential application of geopolymer materials in pile foundation post-grouting engineering, this study utilized industrial solid wastes such as fly ash (FA), slag (SL), and steel slag (SS) to prepare geopolymer grouting materials (GGMs) with various mix proportions. The fluidity, setting [...] Read more.
To investigate the potential application of geopolymer materials in pile foundation post-grouting engineering, this study utilized industrial solid wastes such as fly ash (FA), slag (SL), and steel slag (SS) to prepare geopolymer grouting materials (GGMs) with various mix proportions. The fluidity, setting time, bleeding rate, and mechanical properties of these materials were evaluated to determine the optimal mix proportions for pile foundation grouting. Furthermore, the influence mechanisms of different maintenance conditions on material performance were investigated, including unconfined compressive strength, flexural strength, and microstructural changes. The results indicated that when the SL-to-FA ratio was 1:1, the GGMs satisfied the requirements for pile foundation grouting, and their mechanical properties significantly improved with extended curing time. Under Yellow River water maintenance conditions, the materials formed a dense three-dimensional network of hydrated products, notably enhancing their mechanical characteristics. Additionally, field tests confirmed that GGMs effectively improved the shear strength of the pile–soil interface. The grout distribution pattern on the pile side exhibited a “compaction-splitting” mechanism. These research findings provide theoretical support for applying geopolymer materials in pile foundation grouting engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Structures)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 20398 KiB  
Article
Rheological and Microstructural Characterization of Steel Slag Powder-Modified Asphalt Mastics: Insights into High-Temperature Performance Enhancement
by Xiaodong Xie, Jie Gao, Zongjie Yu, Liang Song and Xuzhi Zhu
Materials 2025, 18(6), 1357; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18061357 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 401
Abstract
This study systematically investigates the rheological modification mechanism of steel slag powder (SSP) as an alternative filler in asphalt mastics, with comparative analysis against conventional limestone powder (LP). Four filler-to-asphalt (F/A) ratios (0.6–1.2) were employed to prepare modified mastics. Comprehensive characterization through laser [...] Read more.
This study systematically investigates the rheological modification mechanism of steel slag powder (SSP) as an alternative filler in asphalt mastics, with comparative analysis against conventional limestone powder (LP). Four filler-to-asphalt (F/A) ratios (0.6–1.2) were employed to prepare modified mastics. Comprehensive characterization through laser diffraction analysis, BET nitrogen adsorption, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed SSP’s significant microstructural advantages: a 29.2% smaller median particle size (D50) and 7.06% larger specific surface area compared to LP, accompanied by enhanced interparticle connectivity and morphological complexity. Rheological evaluation via dynamic shear rheology (DSR) demonstrated SSP’s superior performance enhancement—particularly at elevated F/A ratios (1.0–1.2), where multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) tests showed a 6.9–46.06% improvement in non-recoverable creep compliance (Jnr) over LP-modified counterparts. The temperature sweep analysis indicated SSP’s effectiveness in reducing the temperature susceptibility index by 9.37–18.06% relative to LP. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) combined with two-dimensional correlation analysis (2D-COS) confirmed the dominance of physical interactions over chemical bonding in the SSP–asphalt interface. The results establish SSP’s dual functionality as both a rheological modifier and sustainable construction material, providing mechanistic insights for optimizing steel slag utilization in pavement engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Construction and Building Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 3105 KiB  
Article
Development of OptiCon: A Mathematical Model with a Graphical User Interface for Designing Sustainable Portland Cement Concrete Mixes with Budget Constraint
by Angie Pineda, Rita Peñabaena-Niebles, Gilberto Martínez-Arguelles and Rodrigo Polo-Mendoza
Inventions 2025, 10(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/inventions10020022 - 1 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1348
Abstract
The production of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) generates significant environmental impacts that increase climate change and decrease people’s quality of life. Recent studies highlight the potential to reduce these environmental burdens by partially replacing Portland cement with Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and coarse [...] Read more.
The production of Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) generates significant environmental impacts that increase climate change and decrease people’s quality of life. Recent studies highlight the potential to reduce these environmental burdens by partially replacing Portland cement with Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) and coarse aggregates with Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA). However, designing PCCs with simultaneous contents of SCMs and RCA is not easily manageable because current design procedures fail to adjust all of the variables involved. In order to overcome these limitations, this research introduces a novel mathematical model designed to develop operationally efficient PCC mixes that are both environmentally sustainable and cost-effective. The proposed model, denominated OptiCon, employs the Life-Cycle Assessment and Life-Cycle Costs Analysis methodologies to evaluate the incorporation of three different SCMs (i.e., fly ash, silica fume, and steel slag) and RCA into PCC mixes. OptiCon is also integrated within a graphical user interface in order to make its implementation straightforward for potential users. Thus, OptiCon is operationalized through an algorithm, offering a replicable approach that can be adapted to various contexts, providing both a theoretical framework and a practical tool for state agencies, engineers, suppliers, and other stakeholders to adopt more environmentally friendly practices in concrete production. Furthermore, a case study from northern Colombia analyzed thirty mix design scenarios with varying supplier conditions (foreign, local, or mixed), calculating costs and CO2 emissions for a fixed concrete volume of 1 m3. The findings demonstrated that utilizing OptiCon can achieve substantial reductions in both CO2 emissions and production costs, underscoring the model’s efficiency and practical impact. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

33 pages, 8379 KiB  
Article
Prediction of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) Properties Using Gene Expression Programming (GEP)
by Yunfeng Qian, Jianyu Yang, Weijun Yang, Ali H. Alateah, Ali Alsubeai, Abdulgafor M. Alfares and Muhammad Sufian
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2675; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092675 - 28 Aug 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2309
Abstract
In today’s digital age, innovative artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies, notably machine learning (ML) approaches, are increasingly favored for their superior accuracy in anticipating the characteristics of cementitious composites compared to typical regression models. The main focus of current research work is to improve [...] Read more.
In today’s digital age, innovative artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies, notably machine learning (ML) approaches, are increasingly favored for their superior accuracy in anticipating the characteristics of cementitious composites compared to typical regression models. The main focus of current research work is to improve knowledge regarding application of one of the new ML techniques, i.e., gene expression programming (GEP), to anticipate the ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) properties, such as flowability, flexural strength (FS), compressive strength (CS), and porosity. In addition, the process of training a model that predicts the intended outcome values when the associated inputs are provided generates the graphical user interface (GUI). Moreover, the reported ML models that have been created for the aforementioned UHPC characteristics are simple and have limited input parameters. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to predict the UHPC characteristics while taking into account a wide range of input factors (i.e., 21) and use a GUI to assess how these parameters affect the UHPC properties. This input parameters includes the diameter of steel and polystyrene fibers (µm and mm), the length of the fibers (mm), the maximum size of the aggregate particles (mm), the type of cement, its strength class, and its compressive strength (MPa) type, the contents of steel and polystyrene fibers (%), and the amount of water (kg/m3). In addition, it includes fly ash, silica fume, slag, nano-silica, quartz powder, limestone powder, sand, coarse aggregates, and super-plasticizers, with all measurements in kg/m3. The outcomes of the current research reveal that the GEP technique is successful in accurately predicting UHPC characteristics. The obtained R2, i.e., determination coefficients, from the GEP model are 0.94, 0.95, 0.93, and 0.94 for UHPC flowability, CS, FS, and porosity, respectively. Thus, this research utilizes GEP and GUI to accurately forecast the characteristics of UHPC and to comprehend the influence of its input factors, simplifying the procedure and offering valuable instruments for the practical application of the model’s capabilities within the domain of civil engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Building Materials, and Repair & Renovation)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 5222 KiB  
Article
Research on Improving Moisture Resistance of Asphalt Mixture with Compounded Recycled Metallurgical Slag Powders
by Bo Gao, Haiqin Xu, Shaopeng Wu, Huan Wang, Xinkui Yang and Pengrui Chen
Materials 2024, 17(14), 3499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17143499 - 15 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1084
Abstract
The utilization of steel slag as an alternative material in asphalt mixtures is considered the solution to the problem of the shortage of natural aggregates. However, asphalt mixtures with steel slag show susceptibility to damage caused by moisture, especially in powder form. Therefore, [...] Read more.
The utilization of steel slag as an alternative material in asphalt mixtures is considered the solution to the problem of the shortage of natural aggregates. However, asphalt mixtures with steel slag show susceptibility to damage caused by moisture, especially in powder form. Therefore, blast furnace slag powders were used to compound with steel slag powders as fillers to improve the moisture resistance of asphalt mixtures. The characteristics of the steel slag powders and blast furnace slag powders were investigated initially. Subsequently, the adhesion properties of the asphalt mastics with the powders to the aggregates were evaluated. Finally, the moisture resistances of the asphalt mixtures were identified. The results indicate that the steel slag powder exhibited a notable prevalence of surface pores, which had a more uniform size distribution. In contrast, the blast furnace slag powder exhibited a greater average pore size. The larger specific surface area of the steel slag powder was over 30% larger than that of the blast furnace slag powder, and the superior gelling activity of the blast furnace powder enhanced the adhesion property. Both the steel slag powder and blast furnace slag powder were found to enhance the adhesion properties of the asphalt mastics, while the effect of the steel slag powder was more pronounced, the maximum force difference of which exceeded 200 N. The antagonistic effect of the steel slag powder and blast furnace slag powder on the resistance of the adhesive interface to moisture damage was confirmed by the contact angle test. The incorporation of the blast furnace slag powder markedly enhanced the moisture resistances of the asphalt mixtures. The phenomenon of dynamic moisture damage to the asphalt mixtures was more pronounced under the multicycle times, obviously severer than that in a stable water environment. As the dynamic moisture cycles increased, the degree of destruction gradually approached a steady state. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmentally Friendly Composites Incorporating Waste Materials)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2514 KiB  
Article
A Water Environment-Based Simulated Method for Ultrasonic Testing of Slag Inclusion Weld Defects Based on Improved VMD
by Jing Zhang, Guocai Zhang, Zijie Chen, Hailin Zou, Shuai Xue, Jianjie Deng and Jianqing Li
Sensors 2024, 24(13), 4199; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24134199 - 28 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1529
Abstract
The identification of slag inclusion defects in welds is of the utmost importance in guaranteeing the integrity, safety, and prolonged service life of welded structures. Most research focuses on different kinds of weld defects, but branch research on categories of slag inclusion material [...] Read more.
The identification of slag inclusion defects in welds is of the utmost importance in guaranteeing the integrity, safety, and prolonged service life of welded structures. Most research focuses on different kinds of weld defects, but branch research on categories of slag inclusion material is limited and critical for safeguarding the quality of engineering and the well-being of personnel. To address this issue, we design a simulated method using ultrasonic testing to identify the inclusion of material categories in austenitic stainless steel. It is based on a simulated experiment in a water environment, and six categories of cubic specimens, including four metallic and two non-metallic materials, are selected to simulate the slag materials of the inclusion defects. Variational mode decomposition optimized by particle swarm optimization is employed for ultrasonic signals denoising. Moreover, the phase spectrum of the denoised signal is utilized to extract the phase characteristic of the echo signal from the water–slag specimen interface. The experimental results show that our method has the characteristics of appropriate decomposition and good denoising performance. Compared with famous signal denoising algorithms, the proposed method extracted the lowest number of intrinsic mode functions from the echo signal with the highest signal-to-noise ratio and lowest normalized cross-correlation among all of the comparative algorithms in signal denoising of weld slag inclusion defects. Finally, the phase spectrum can ascertain whether the slag inclusion is a thicker or thinner medium compared with the weld base material based on the half-wave loss existing or not in the echo signal phase. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sensing and Imaging for Defect Detection)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 12045 KiB  
Article
Mathematical Modeling of Transient Submerged Entry Nozzle Clogging and Its Effect on Flow Field, Bubble Distribution and Interface Fluctuation in Slab Continuous Casting Mold
by Yuntong Li, Wenyuan He, Changliang Zhao, Jianqiu Liu, Zeyu Yang, Yuhang Zhao and Jian Yang
Metals 2024, 14(7), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/met14070742 - 22 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1323
Abstract
Submerged entry nozzle (SEN) clogging will affect the production efficiency and product quality in the continuous casting process. In this work, the transient SEN clogging model is developed by coupling the porous media model defined by the user-defined function (UDF) and the discrete [...] Read more.
Submerged entry nozzle (SEN) clogging will affect the production efficiency and product quality in the continuous casting process. In this work, the transient SEN clogging model is developed by coupling the porous media model defined by the user-defined function (UDF) and the discrete phase model (DPM). The effects of the transient SEN clogging process on the flow field, the distribution of argon gas bubbles and the fluctuation of the interface between steel and slag in the concave bottom SEN in the continuous casting slab mold with a cross-section of 1500 mm × 230 mm are studied by coupling transient SEN clogging model, DPM and volume of fluid (VOF) model. The results show that the actual morphology and thicknesses of SEN clogging are in good agreement with the numerical simulation results. The measurement result of the surface velocity is consistent with the numerical simulation result. With increasing the simulation time, the degree of SEN clogging increases. The flow velocities of molten steel flowing from the outlet of the side hole increase, because the flow space is occupied with the clogging inclusions, which leads to the increased number of argon gas bubbles near the narrow wall. The steel–slag interface fluctuation near the narrow walls also increases, resulting in the increased risk of slag entrapment. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 11540 KiB  
Article
Physical Model of Inclusions Removal at Static Steel–Slag Interface
by Xin Tao, Jianqi Cao, Jia Wang, Xiaonai He, Lingyu Meng, Yongbo Guo, Tao Wang, Dongliang Li, Jinping Fan and Chao Chen
Materials 2024, 17(10), 2244; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17102244 - 10 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1297
Abstract
Inclusions are one of the important factors affecting the cleanliness of molten steel. The current optimization of inclusion removal methods mainly focuses on promoting inclusions to float to the slag–steel interface so that the inclusions can be absorbed and removed by the refining [...] Read more.
Inclusions are one of the important factors affecting the cleanliness of molten steel. The current optimization of inclusion removal methods mainly focuses on promoting inclusions to float to the slag–steel interface so that the inclusions can be absorbed and removed by the refining slag. However, the research on the floating removal of inclusions cannot be carried out directly in the ladle, so methods such as mathematical models and physical models were developed. This article uses silicone oil to simulate the slag layer; polypropylene particles; and aluminum oxide particles to simulate inclusions to establish a water model experiment. By changing the viscosity of silicone oil and the diameter of particles, the factors affecting the movement of inclusions at the slag–steel interface were explored. Based on the water model, a mathematical model of the floating behavior of inclusions at the slag–steel interface was constructed, and parameters such as particle diameter and interfacial tension in the water model experiment were studied by the mathematical model for calculation. Both the mathematical model and the water model experimental results show that after the viscosity of silicone oil increases from 0.048 Pa·s to 0.096 Pa·s, the dimensionless displacement and terminal velocity of the particles decreases. When the diameter of the same particle increases, the dimensionless displacement and terminal velocity increases. The dimensionless displacement of polypropylene particles of the same diameter is larger than that of aluminum oxide particles, and the terminal velocity is smaller than that of aluminum oxide particles. This is attributed to the better overall three-phase wettability of polypropylene particle. When the liquid level increases, the dimensionless displacement and terminal velocity of particles under the same conditions show only slight differences (less than 10%). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Metallurgy Technologies: Physical and Numerical Modelling)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 4350 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of Mold Slag Entrapment Behavior in Nonoriented Silicon Steel Production Process
by Wenjie Huo, Caijun Zhang, Yanchao Zhang and Xuekai Li
Processes 2024, 12(1), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr12010167 - 10 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1414
Abstract
This paper is based on the surface defects of casting billets in the production process of nonoriented silicon steel plates at a steel plant in North China. Taking the parameters of a slab mold in the nonoriented silicon steel production process as a [...] Read more.
This paper is based on the surface defects of casting billets in the production process of nonoriented silicon steel plates at a steel plant in North China. Taking the parameters of a slab mold in the nonoriented silicon steel production process as a prototype, the flow field characteristics of the mold under the same section, different drawing speed and immersion depth were systematically studied by using a LES (large eddy simulation) and VOF (volume of fluid) coupling algorithm. The results show that under the current conditions, when the critical slag entrapment speed increases from 1.0 m/min to 1.2 m/min, the nozzle insertion depth increases linearly with the critical slag entrapment speed, while when the nozzle insertion depth exceeds 130 mm, the increasing effect of further increasing the nozzle insertion depth on the critical slag entrapment speed begins to decrease. When the drawing speed of continuous casting is kept constant at 1.4 m/min, the abnormal fluctuation height of the steel slag interface is significantly improved when the angle of the water nozzle is increased from 15° to 20°, and the proportion of slag entrapment is also reduced from 0.376% to 0.015%. When the nozzle angle is 25°, the slag entrapment ratio is reduced to 0%, and the steel slag interface also ensures a certain activity. The numerical simulation results were applied to the industrial site, and the slag inclusion rate and crack rate of the billet in the continuous casting process of nonoriented silicon steel were obviously improved after the optimization process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Renewable Energy and Green Metallurgy Technology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 12761 KiB  
Article
Design and Optimization of the Internal Geometry of a Nozzle for a Thin-Slab Continuous Casting Mold
by Fernando S. Chiwo, Ana del Carmen Susunaga-Notario, José Antonio Betancourt-Cantera, Raúl Pérez-Bustamante, Víctor Hugo Mercado-Lemus, Javier Méndez-Lozoya, Gerardo Barrera-Cardiel, John Edison García-Herrera, Hugo Arcos-Gutiérrez and Isaías E. Garduño
Designs 2024, 8(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/designs8010002 - 22 Dec 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2728
Abstract
Understanding the phenomena that cause jet oscillations inside funnel-type thin-slab molds is essential for ensuring continuous liquid steel delivery, improving flow pattern control, and increasing plant productivity and the quality of the final product. This research aims to study the effect of the [...] Read more.
Understanding the phenomena that cause jet oscillations inside funnel-type thin-slab molds is essential for ensuring continuous liquid steel delivery, improving flow pattern control, and increasing plant productivity and the quality of the final product. This research aims to study the effect of the nozzle’s internal design on the fluid dynamics of the nozzle-mold system, focusing on suppressing vorticity generation below the nozzle’s tip. The optimized design of the nozzle forms the basis of the results obtained through numerical simulation. Mathematical modeling involves fundamental equations, the Reynolds Stress Model for turbulence, and the Multiphase Volume of Fluid model. The governing equations are discretized and solved using the implicit iterative-segregated method implemented in FLUENT®. The main results demonstrate the possibility of controlling jet oscillations even at high casting speeds and deep dives. The proposed modification in the internal geometry of the nozzle is considered capable of modifying the flow pattern inside the mold. The geometric changes correspond with 106% more elongation than the original nozzle; the change is considered 17% of an inverted trapezoidal shape. Furthermore, there was a 2.5 mm increase in the lower part of both ports to compensate for the inverted trapezoidal shape. The newly designed SEN successfully eliminated the issue of jet oscillations inside the mold by effectively preventing the intertwining of the flow. This improvement is a significant upgrade over the original design. At the microscale, a delicate force balance occurs at the tip of the nozzle’s internal bifurcation, which is influenced by fluctuating speeds and ferrostatic pressure. Disrupting this force balance leads to increased oscillations, causing variations in the mass flow rate from one port to another. Consequently, the proposed nozzle optimization design effectively controls microscale fluctuations above this zone in conjunction with changes in flow speed, jet oscillation, and metal–slag interface instability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Mechanical Engineering Design)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 13685 KiB  
Article
Study on the Cyclic Shear Performance of Waste Steel Slag Mixed Soil
by Weisheng Xu, Yingna Zhu, Haoran Kang, Qing Xu, Qipei Han, Xiangwei Song and Zhenwei Liu
Buildings 2023, 13(12), 3133; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13123133 - 18 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
Clay soil has poor engineering properties such as poor permeability and low shear strength. Waste steel slag is an industrial by-product formed in the furnace during the steelmaking process which has high quality, durability, anti-slip properties, gelling, high permeability and good particle interlocking [...] Read more.
Clay soil has poor engineering properties such as poor permeability and low shear strength. Waste steel slag is an industrial by-product formed in the furnace during the steelmaking process which has high quality, durability, anti-slip properties, gelling, high permeability and good particle interlocking properties. Therefore, in order to improve the engineering properties of clay and increase the utilization rate of waste steel slag, the steel slag was mixed into the clay. Steel slag clay mix was used for the straight shear test, cyclic shear test and post-cyclic straight shear test. To investigate the strength characteristics, damping ratio, shear stiffness variation and mixed soil displacement at the reinforcement-soil interface under different steel slag dosing, vertical stress, moisture content and shear amplitude conditions. The test results show that steel slag can significantly improve the shear strength of the clay tendon-soil interface, and the improvement effect is better than the conventional material sand improved clay. The steel slag mix has a large damping ratio and shear stiffness, suggesting that it has good damping and energy dissipation properties. In this case, the shear strength, damping ratio and shear stiffness of the soil mix at 40% steel slag admixture are better. The shear strength of the steel slag mix is increased after cyclic loading compared to straight shear before cyclic loading. In addition, the water content has a greater effect on the shear strength parameters, shear stiffness and damping ratio of the steel slag clay mix compared to the vertical stress and shear amplitude. The test results can provide a theoretical basis for the replacement of sand by steel slag in improving clay soils. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop