Micro-macro Coupled Solidification Simulations of a Sr-Modified Al-Si-Mg Alloy in Permanent Mould Casting

Casting simulations incorporating solidification models are commonly applied to improve the dimensional accuracy of casting components. Challenging for a predictive casting simulation is the precise description of the solidification process of the casting alloy. For Sr-modified Al-Si-Mg casting alloys (e.g. A356), the Scheil-Gulliver model fails to describe the effect of Strontium on the solidification path. In this work, a dedicated micro-macro simulation approach is applied to a permanent mould casting component with Sr-modified A356 alloy. Microstructure simulations in both 2D and 3D based on multicomponent multiphase-field method were performed to study the effect of Sr-modification, as well as the impact of cooling rate on solidification path. Casting simulations coupled with 2D and 3D microstructure simulation were compared and validated with experimental results.