Solidification front shape control through modulating the traveling magnetic field

•Modulated electromagnetic metal stirring allows to control solidification rate.•Low-frequency modulation increase solidification rate.•There is optimal intensity and frequency for flattering solid-liquid interphase.•Periodical stirring modulation is the best case of interphase smoothing. This paper is concerned with studying the process of indirect control of the molten metal solidification front by means of modulating power supply of a linear induction machine (LIM). The influence of the LIM power supply mode on the flow in the molten metal is considered. The structure of the flow and the position of the solidification front are determined by a noninvasive method using an ultrasonic Doppler velocimeter. The obtained experimental data are used to determine the shape of solidification front profiles for four LIM power supply modes, and to establish the dependence of the shape of the front profiles on the characteristics of the supply current (magnitude and period of low-frequency modulation). A comparative analysis of the interphase boundary smoothing is carried out for different power supply modes of the LIM.