The use of general purpose software in casting solidification simulation
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COMPUTER simulation of casting solidification has been the subject of r e s e a r c h for many y e a r s . The progress in this work allowed elimination of many of the initial restricting assumptions. Today, metal superheat, temperature dependent t h e r m a l properties, and heat transfer a c r o s s material interfaces can be handled u s i n g numerical techniques. Often the accuracy of the thermal p r o p e r t y data of the materials involved is the limiting factor. Along with these advances, the work has shifted from one dimensional to two and t h r e e dimensional simulation. One of the m a j o r problems encountered in making this transition is the development of accurate computer codes. With each added dimension, the complexity of the codes increases significantly. Thus, means of reducing the time required to obtain computation results must be sought. Dr. B a r r y W. Boehm graphically illustrated this need in his paper Software and Its Impact: A Quantitative Assessment. 1 In this paper, he showed that software (manpower) costs can be as much as 80 pct of l a r g e computer projects. H e also estimated that by 1980, ~75 pct of the work f o r c e will be u s i n g computers in some manner, but only 20 pct of the work f o r c e will have knowledge of how computers operate. If computer simulation of casting solidification is t o approach its true potential, t h e s e facts must be taken into account. By so doing, the number of u s e r s will significantly increase and the foundry industry's cost will be minimized. To achieve increased u s a g e at a minimum cost, computer simulation must work toward the following three goals: generalized s o f t ware; easy data input; and easy-to-analyze output. This paper will describe one means of accomplishing these goals and examples of results obtained using the described approach will be presented.
WILLIAM C. ERICKSON is Foundry Section Leader,Group CMB-6, University of California, Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM 87545. This work was performed under the auspices of the USERDA. Manuscript submitted May 17, 1976. METALLURGICAL TRANSACTIONS B
GENERALIZED
SOFTWARE
When a project involving computer applications is initiated, the f i r s t task should be to define the requirements of the project. While this sounds obvious, many projects are started, and some completed, without defining the problem in t e r m s that include input data required and the calculated information des i r e d - both minimum requirements and optimum requirements. Once this has been done, a thorough s e a r c h of existing software should be made. Many times, programs already exist for doing what is wanted. Other t i m e s they can be used by making minor changes in the user-defined input and output requirements or by m i n o r modifications t o the program itself. Only when all these possibilities have been exhausted should new software be written. When these s t e p s are not taken, unnecessary expense usually results. General p u r p o s e software exists for achieving all facets
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