User-friendly interface design and development for continuous-casting model CON1D

An user interface to input parameters, run simulations, and graph the outputs from the continuous casting model CON1D was designed and implemented in a spreadsheet environment, with a focus on including features to expand the usability and audience of the model. CON1D is a very powerful and efficient 1-D transient computational model of heat transfer in the process of continuous casting of steel slabs. This model has been validated by many plant measurements to predict mold temperatures, shell thickness, mold heat flux, slab temperatures, and many other parameters. This interface incorporates worksheets where the user can enter input data with user-friendly features and functionality. A grade-table sheet allows the user to setup the composition of commonly used steel grades, which can be used to automatically fill fields when running various simulations. A spray table sheet allows a change in casting speed to automatically update water flow rates of all of the spray zones. The user interface includes the key ability to convert the units of parameters, allowing users to utilize either British units, metric units, or a customized mixture. The interface integrates with a familiar spread-sheet post-processor, which reads in the many output files generated by CON1D and plots the results in readily-customized graphs. User feedback was used to make iterative improvements to the system. The interface has received positive feedback from users. The added user-friendly features of the interface will allow a wider audience of users to benefit from the CON1D model, including both researchers and a larger group of users in the industrial environment of continuous casting systems.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2010

Author dc:creator

• Jasti, Hemanth K.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Thomas, Brian G.

• CON1D
• Continuous steel casting
• User interface

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2010 Hemanth K. Jasti

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/16894

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/16894