On intrinsic and extrinsic feeding distance calculations for aluminium alloys

ABSTRACTFeeding distances have been calculated for an Al–7%Si alloy by using first principles, i.e. Darcy’s law for flow through porous a medium. Pressure drop needed for liquid metal flow through the interdendritic network has been varied between approximately 1 atm and the intrinsic fracture pressure of liquid aluminium. Results have shown that aluminium alloys are capable of feeding themselves via either interdendritic or solid feeding when liquid metal is not weakened extrinsically.