Computer simulation of casting becomes a valuable tool for developing advanced materials and casting components. Recent investigations and validation work on simulated cast components reveal the necessity of reliable analyses methods to determine solidification behaviour and to extract parameters for kinetic models to use at simulation of complex cast iron materials.

The paper will present an inverse modelling method for determination of eutectic growth. The method include an experimental part proper to investigate simultaneously the solidification at three different cooling rates while the cast material has the same metallurgical origin, and a computational part for calculation of grow kinetics. Validation of the inverse method is made together with simulation. The inverse modelling of eutectic growth in grey iron indicates that chemical composition, type and amount of inoculants and cooling condition are strongly influencing the eutectic growth condition and gives different eutectic growth coefficients. By invoking a generalized KJMA* equation, the shape of the growing eutectic interface can be predicted. Deviation from perfectly spherical growth in real solidification cases is the source of variation of eutectic growth coefficients. The results of the inverse model are valuable to simulate differences in solidification behaviour in differently treated grey iron melts.

* KJMA is the abbreviation of the name of the famous scientists Kolmogorow, Johnson, Mehl and Avrami who developed and applied the equation.