Patent ID: 7024342

Claim:
A method for simulating thermal flows for casting/molding processes, comprising: selecting simulation modules for incorporation in an overall simulation sequence for execution by a computer, said modules including a Flow in Shot Sleeve Module, a Shrinkage Porosity Prediction Module, a Heat Transfer Fluid Line Module, and a Die Lubricant Cooling Module; inputting initial parameter value and process conditions for the simulation sequence; performing the simulation sequence with the computer in accordance with the parameter value and process conditions to simulate thermal flow for a casting or molding process, including: (a) discretizing flow domain into elements having nodes and fluxing surfaces; (b) incrementing the time by an incrementing time step; (c) updating material balance; (d) forming and solving momentum equations, and updating velocity and pressure fields; (e) forming and solving energy equations, and updating temperature field; (f) checking if parameters have converged, returning to step (d) if they have not; (g) determining whether an end-simulation event has occurred, returning to step (c) if it has not; and (h) deciding whether to execute post-process simulation modules with the computer, said post-process simulation modules including a Mend Line Prediction Module.