A Simple Estimation Method for Shell Thickness at the Mold Exit in the Continuous Casting of Steel

The heat extracted by the continuous casting mold has to produce a solid layer strong enough to withstand the ferrostatic pressure when the steel leaves the mold. An improper design of the system can cause strand breakouts or defects in the continuous casting product. Mathematical models are useful tools not only to predict the solidified thickness at mold exit but also to understand the influence of the different variables involved in the process. In the last years, numerical models have been widely employed for this purpose due to their capability of dealing with complex boundary conditions and geometries. However, for certain applications, like daily plant operation, the use of analytical solutions which can quickly give the explicit dependence of the involved variables is still desirable. The objective of the present article is to apply an analytical solution to estimate the solidified thickness at the mold exit and to compare its results with measured data previously reported in the literature.