# The Development of an Optimized Impact Pad for a Six-Strand Tundish Using CFD Simulations
## 7 Conclusions  
The results of this study clearly demonstrate that the shape and design of the impact pad play a decisive role in controlling the flow dynamics, temperature distribution, and wear resistance within the tundish during continuous casting. While the SPHERIC-K2 and  
Figure 28: No visible wearing of the working lining after 18 heat cycles in the slag line area using experimental configuration SP-K4 (impact pad SPHERIC K4).  
SPHERIC-K4 impact pads significantly improved flow symmetry and reduced refractory erosion compared to the conventional KTHE/C pad, the findings also underscore a fundamental principle: there is no universal impact pad suitable for all tundish configurations.  
Each tundish has unique geometric, operational, and process-specific parameters, including the number and arrangement of outlets, casting speeds, ladle shroud positions, and refractory materials. Therefore, it is critical that impact pads be custom-designed for individual tundish geometries and operational needs. SPHERIC-K4, as an optimized solution for the tested six-strand tundish, proved effective in balancing residence times, minimizing surface turbulence, and improving steel cleanliness. However, its performance cannot be generalized without considering context-specific constraints.  
Based on the results of both CFD simulations and plant trials, the following recommendations are proposed for the future development of impact pads:  
* Prioritize the customization of pad shape according to tundish geometry and strand arrangement.
* Use numerical simulations as a standard tool in the design phase to evaluate flow uniformity, thermal homogenization, and inclusion flotation zones.
* Implement wear resistance studies for refractory materials in high-turbulence regions. Finally, despite the progress achieved, further research is needed in two key areas: (1) The effect of chemical erosion mechanisms caused by steel-refractory interaction; (2) The impact of transient flow instabilities, particularly those associated with ladle shroud exchanges and level fluctuations in the tundish. These phenomena can significantly influence the inclusion content, slag entrapment, and lining lifetime and thus require advanced modeling and experimental validation.  
Conceptualization, P.D.; methodology, P.D.; validation, P.D., B.B., I.P. and J.D.; formal analysis, P.D. and R.D.; investigation, P.D., B.B. and R.D.; resources, P.D., L.F, S.H. and B.B.; data curation, P.D.; writing--original draft preparation, P.D.; writing--review and editing, P.D., B.B., J.D. and M.H.; visualization, P.D.; supervision, P.D., B.B. and M.H.; project administration, P.D., L.F. and B.B.; funding acquisition, B.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This research work was performed under the project APVV-21-0396 and was financially supported by APVV.  
Not applicable.  
Restrictions apply to the availability of these data. Data were obtained from IPC REFACTORIES a. s., Slovakia, and are available from the authors with the permission of IPC REFACTORIES a. s., Slovakia.  
The authors sincerely acknowledge the anonymous reviewers for their insights and comments, which further improved the quality of the manuscript.  
Author [PERSON] was employed by the company IPC REFRACTORIES a.s. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.