Application of implicit surface in post-processing of casting simulation

With the development of casting process and its numerical simulation technique, many demands of realism and clearness in post-processing have arisen. This paper introduces the implicit surface to post-processing for the results of casting simulation so as to meet these demands. In this paper, a robust and fully automatic algorithm is proposed for extracting the implicit surface in the signed distance function calculated from the import stereolithography files. Then several applications of implicit surface in the post-processing of casting simulation are listed in two categories. The applications in the first category include fast rendering of massive data, section view in arbitrary direction, visualization of residual liquid, and casting deformation, giving clear and pretty visualization of the results in simulation, and making it possible for engineers and process designers to look through the opaque mold, gain insights to casting process, and locate possible defects. The applications in the second category involve thickness distribution and modulus calculation, which offer important characteristics of castings and facilitate the optimization of casting processes.