Numerical Simulation Analysis of Aluminium Alloy Wheels Casting Defects and Casting Process Optimization

In the low pressure casting process of A356 aluminum alloy wheel hub, casting defects including shrinkage cavity, shrinkage porosity, impurity and pore usually occur inside the casting. These defects affect the mechanical properties of the casting. To solve this problem, we conducted a study based on a cooperation project with a well-known domestic automobile wheel manufacturer. In the present study, uniaxial tensile test of aluminum alloy casting containing defects was simulated and analysed, and the effect of types and number of defects on mechanical properties was studied by finite element analysis software. Statistical analysis of the data was provided by the manufacturer. It has been found that the degassing technology is effective by the quantitative analysis method. Based on the analyses of experimental data and the numerical simulation it is deduced that the tensile strength of casting increases with the increase of the defects due to the presence of impurity. This was confirmed in this research project, it has been observed that the defect rate of the casting sample is reduced from 5%-6% to less than 1%.