Utilizing Industry-oriented Finite Element Codes in the Design of Virtual Steel Mill Concept

Abstract Standard industry-oriented finite element codes offer a great degree of versatility and computational efficiency. These software tools in hands of control process engineers help to establish new concepts of control strategies, leading to an effective or autonomous operation. However, their use in continuous casting industry is usually limited to isolated case studies due to missing communication layer interfaces and data processing tools within steel mill infrastructure. Systematic breaking of these barriers would lead to novel concepts of distributed parameter system identification and control system design using off-line or co-simulation control schemes. This marks the way towards virtual technological nodes as a part of a more general concept of virtual steel mill with continuous casting machine at its very heart.