In continuous casting, several thermal and metallurgical assumptions are considered:
- Radial heat flow is predominant due to the geometry of billets and slabs.
- Solidification starts quickly as the molten metal comes into contact with the mold and continues in the secondary cooling zone.
- Typically, metal is poured with slight superheat to maintain fluidity and avoid premature solidification.
- A linear radial temperature gradient is often assumed for simplification.
However, assuming significant longitudinal heat flow contradicts the actual thermal behavior, as heat transfer along the length (longitudinal) is minimal compared to radial cooling.