Download user-friendly interface design and development for continuous

ABSTRACT
An user interface to input parameters, run simulations, and graph the outputs from the
continuous casting model CON1D was designed and implemented in a spreadsheet environment,
with a focus on including features to expand the usability and audience of the model. CON1D is
a very powerful and efficient 1-D transient computational model of heat transfer in the process of
continuous casting of steel slabs. This model has been validated by many plant measurements to
predict mold temperatures, shell thickness, mold heat flux, slab temperatures, and many other
parameters. This interface incorporates worksheets where the user can enter input data with userfriendly features and functionality. A grade-table sheet allows the user to setup the composition
of commonly used steel grades, which can be used to automatically fill fields when running
various simulations. A spray table sheet allows a change in casting speed to automatically update
water flow rates of all of the spray zones. The user interface includes the key ability to convert
the units of parameters, allowing users to utilize either British units, metric units, or a customized
mixture. The interface integrates with a familiar spread-sheet post-processor, which reads in the
many output files generated by CON1D and plots the results in readily-customized graphs. User
feedback was used to make iterative improvements to the system. The interface has received
positive feedback from users. The added user-friendly features of the interface will allow a wider
audience of users to benefit from the CON1D model, including both researchers and a larger
group of users in the industrial environment of continuous casting systems.
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