A wire cutting test to check the temperature distribution in inductively heated cylindrical aluminium billets at semi-solid material state

A fast test has been developed to evaluate the homogeneity of the temperature field within aluminium cylindrical billets heated up to their semi-solid state. This method is based on the evaluation of force measurements during cutting of the heated specimens by a thin wire, considering that the shear stress of thixo-tropic Al-alloys is significantly deteriorated at thixo temperatures. The obtained results were explained by FEM supported calculations of the occurring thermal field within the billet. Moreover, the measured cutting forces versus the wire displacement were verified by a FEM based simulation of the introduced test. The developed method enables a fast assessment of the specimen heating uniformity and contributes to an undisturbed conduct of semi-solid high-pressure die casting.