Through Process Modelling

A new approach to improve existing and develop new simulation models and apply them in a sequence to simulate the complete production processes of Aluminium semi-finished products is described. The development has been a joint effort of academic and industrial partners developed in the frame of the VIR* European projects. It integrated advanced material models with industrial fabrication process models to predict the microstructures and properties in the complete production chain processes of Al sheet and profiles, i.e. by DC ingot casting, rolling and extrusion and analyze complex interactions of critical process parameters with the corresponding metallurgical mechanisms and predict the related material response and properties. The principles are discussed and examples are given for their successful application to simulate industrial fabrication processes.