variavel0=<b>ALEXANDRE PITOL BOEIRA</b> - pitol@vortex.ufrgs.br UFRGS
<b>Jaime Alvares Spim Jr.</b> - spim@vortex.ufrgs.br UFRGS
<b>Abstract.</b> The application of numeric models which can foresee accurately the formation of metallurgical structures it is fundamental for the control and improvement of the quality. In the last two decades a lot of researchers have concentrate efforts to obtaining the right correlation of a solidification global system (mold material, metal, coolers, gating and raising position, etc.) with the final quality of the casting. Most of these studies are to understand the phenomenon of the solidification and the formation of the structure and its relationship with the defects, mechanical characteristics, superficial conditions and mainly optimization conditions of the process. The present work has as objective the application of a numeric model based on the Finite Differences Method, it to the forecast of the solidification thermal map and to understand the formation of the metallurgical structure of the Al-3,5%Cu alloy. The results of the thermal analyze and the cooling curves are compared with the results from numeric model and with the macrostructure of the casting. The solidification system is composed by molds made in sand, copper and steel. The results indicate a good correlation between results from model and from experiments.
<b>Keywords.</b> Solidification, Numeric Model, Thermal Analysis, Metallurgical Structure.