From Experimentation to Analysis: Considerations for Determination of the Metal/Mold Interfacial Heat Transfer Coefficient via Solution of the Inverse Heat Conduction Problem

Casting solidification simulation has been established as an effective tool used to improve the efficiency of the casting design process. Knowledge of the interfacial heat transfer coefficient at the metal/mold interface of metal castings is crucial to the simulation of casting solidification. The characterization of the heat transfer from metal to mold has been the focus of many researchers. The solution of the inverse method has been used to determine the interfacial heat flux and/or the interfacial heat transfer coefficient (IHTC) and has been applied to a variety of casting techniques and geometries. While the inverse method is a legitimate technique to determine the metal/mold interfacial heat transfer coefficient, there are a number of important issues to consider before applying the method to actual castings. The present work is a discussion of practical and important issues related to various common casting techniques that must be considered when collecting temperature measurements to be used in an inverse calculation and when developing a heat transfer model of the system.