Finite element study of three-dimensional flow and heat transfer in mold filling process

Mold filling process was analyzed on the finite element framework. Mold filling process is a problem involving flow and heat transfer with moving free surfaces. Due to the simplicity and flexibility of the fixed grid system, this study employed the VOF (Volume of Fluid)-based algorithm in solving the moving boundary problem. This study adopted a method in which the shape of the free surface is assumed to be a plane within an element and utilized the concept of the fluid-richness vector (orientation vector) in order to define the plane which identifies the free surface. Combined with the linear geometric representation of the free surface, the semi-implicit scheme with respect to the temporal domain is proposed to advance the flow front. To show the versatility and availability of the current scheme, three-dimensional mold filling processes are simulated.