Numerical Simulation and Process Optimization of Vacuum Investment Casting for Be–Al Alloys

Be–Al alloy castings are widely used in aviation, aerospace and marine industries due to their excellent comprehensive properties. To improve the quality of products, vacuum investment casting of a bracket casting of Be–Al alloys was simulated using the finite-element method and the evolution of the flow field and temperature field as well as the formation of shrinkage porosity were simulated. The simulated results of positions of shrinkage porosity agreed well with the experimental results. The optimized casting parameter with ceramic shell preheat temperature of 500 °C and pouring temperature of 1300 °C was determined by numerical simulation. After the process optimization, a high quality Be–Al alloy casting was successfully produced by pouring once.