Sensitivity Analysis of Micro Models for Solidification of Pure Metals

Theoretical aspects and examples of the application of sensitivity analysis in the thermal theory of foundry processes are presented. In particular, the so-called second generation models of solidification (micro models) are considered. The sensitivity information can be applied for different purposes, among which it is possible to use the results obtained for a given set of input data to obtain the solution for different input data. The sensitivity coefficients are also necessary for the numerical solution of inverse problems using gradient methods. The application examples concern the sensitivity of the temperature field of a casting-mould system with respect to perturbations of parameters appearing in the micro/macro model of solidification. Numerical computations are performed using the finite difference method.