Development and experimental characterisation of the thermomechanical behaviour of a scaled steel ladle

Abstract

A steel ladle usually employs mortarless refractory masonry in the innermost layer in direct contact with molten steel. The behaviour of such masonry under high thermal loading is complex and essential for designing such installation. A large-scale experimental campaign was carried out focusing on a simplified, laboratory-scaled, pilot steel ladle built with multiple refractory linings as in an industrial ladle. Tests were performed under transient thermal loading up to 1400°C with new and used working linings. The results showed that the distribution of temperatures between the refractory linings was similar for all specimens and confirmed the importance of the selection of the refractory materials in the distinct linings of the ladle to limit heat losses. The heterogeneity in the distribution of dry joints and the effect of the dry joint thickness were also measured using strain gauges. The measurements indicate the effect of viscoplasticity in the working lining on the steel shell, which shows a progressive reduction in the strain starting at 1200°C. The tests performed on the working linings show lower strain built-up due to large viscoplastic deformation and increased joint thickness.