Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences
ISSN: Online 1818-7803ISSN: Print 1816-949x
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Abstract
In the foundry industry samples of moulding sand and core sand are sent to the testing laboratory on a periodic basis. The results are returned to process control laboratory and are plotted on control charts. Trends are noted and corrections made when necessary. This study was aimed at developing modelling equations and simulation for predicting the moulding behaviour of river Niger fine sand at different clay contents thereby bypassing laboratory tests. Physical tests were carried out on 90 samples of sand/clay/water admixture. Moisture content was held constant at 6% at optimum plasticity. Clay content was varied thus: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13% and balance sand to conform to 157 g standard sample. Results obtained indicated that mould sand properties of compactability (40‐46), green hardness (40.25‐48.09), green shear strength (0‐720) and shatter index (38‐55) exhibited linearity while inverse linearity was observed in permeability (135‐120). Refractoriness and dry hardness did not increase in value with increase in clay content. However, green compression strength, shear strength and dry compression strength which maintained a steady positive relationship from 5‐7% clay showed a fluctuating pattern up to 13%. The GFN of the fine sand was 56.13%. The properties variation with respect to clay content was the basis of the model equations development. The model equations predicted the output close to the experimental results using Silica Sand Mould Properties Determination (SSMPD) software. The software was developed using VISUAL BASIC programming language. It is user friendly and runs on window computer of at least 1 MB RAM and 3.0GB free hard disk with information on the installation, running and using the application software. This SSMPD has contributed to rapid determination of fine sand properties and quality foundry mould practice. Statistical tests were used to validate the developed models. The correlation coefficient was used to measure the amount of association existing between the experimental data and predicted data. The computation of the correlation coefficient, the variance, standard deviation, standard error and confidence interval at 95% confidence interval at 95% confidence level was done. The t‐test was used to check the extent of relation of the paired data, ie: exactly the same, closely the same and fairly the same.
How to cite this article:
E. E. Mukoro, J. A. Bakare and T. C. Ogbuanya. Modelling Equations and Simulation for Predicting the Properties of Sand to Improve the Quality and Speed of Moulding Practice.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36478/10.59218/jeas.2023.1.14
URL: https://www.makhillpublications.co/view-article/1816-949x/10.59218/jeas.2023.1.14