Comparative study of contact stresses and strains at horizontal and vertical continuous casting using conventional and innovative methods of withdrawing profiles

This paper presents comparative study of contact stresses and strains at horizontal continuous casting and an innovative method of the half-finished products to horizontal continuous casting of metals. Withdrawal of half-finished products to continuous casting of metals is generally realized by using one or more pairs of metal rollers made of steel. The pairs of rollers are electromechanical and hydraulic driven. This method of half-finished products, although most prevalent, also presents drawbacks. The method proposed by the authors, using jaws firing concentrically oriented, with the half-finished product which is subject of the withdrawal operation.The proposed method is an innovative, and eliminates the hydraulic system of roller shrinkage on the profile, the necessary system in withdrawals roller case. In this way is ensure energy saving and improves facility efficiency and product quality. In terms of curvilinear wire vertical continuous casting, the authors propose the optimization of withdrawal cylinders. In vertical continuous casting withdrawal cylinders are generally used to withdraw several sizes and types of profiles. This is because vertical continuous casting applies only to the large semi-manufactured and change withdrawal cylinders for every size and shape of the semi-manufacturing is not economical. Thus, because the same cylinders are used to withdraw for several types and sizes of semi-manufactured products, slip and deformation may occur, which may affect product quality and reliability of vertical continuous casting. To overcome this problem, the authors propose optimization withdrawal cylinders. This optimization is done by machining the cylinder with more rays that adapts to different kinds of round shapes, but also may withdraw and blooms or billets.