Optimisation of Insulation Padding for Directional Solidification

The capability to predict hot spot in solidifying castings is the utmost important issues during parts design. In this paper, we present a simple method to predict temperature profile and possible hot spot in solidifying castings based on medial axis interpolation. One of the major features of medial objects is that it is a reduced topology of three-dimensional geometry. Hence a geometrically complex three-dimensional object can be represented by a combination of medial objects, e.g. 2-3D surfaces and lines. This allows the large amount of geometrical information to be stored with minimal space requirement and the three dimensional object can be manipulated in a two-dimensional space. In this paper, we exploit this particular property of medial objects and its possible application to casting.