Furnaces use in the metallurgical industry suffer very high temperature gradients. For instance, this client had problems due to the different thermal dilatation factors between the inner refractory material (ceramic-like) and the outer steel structure. To assess this problem, a sequential thermomechanical simulation has been performed on the structure. The simulation helped the client to address problems, in order to design a new and improved structure, regarding:

• Gap values between the refractory blocks
• Stiffness of the outer steel structure
• Pressure that the dilation applies on the furnace’s doors
• Spring compression mechanisms to keep the furnace waterproof

The simulation includes a challenging amount of contact elements and nonlinear material behavior.

Von Mises stress on the outer steel structure

Compression forces apply on the doors

Displacements due to thermal dilatation