Hi, my name is Kevin Devine. I am a PhD researcher at MACSI in the University of Limerick (UL). I started my PhD in October 2014 following the completion of my undergraduate studies in Mathematics and Physics in UL.
My research deals with modelling of the continuous casting of steel process. As part of this work I have established collaboration with Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm. My work compliments existing activities in a project entitled “Reduction of oscillation marks and surface defects in continuously casting materials”, which also involves the participation of three major industrial steel producers: Sandvik Materials Technology AB, SSAB Oxelösund and SSAB Luleå. I plan to spend three weeks in February 2016 working to build on our model which we initiated on my first visit to KTH in February 2015.
The trip will allow me to liaise with other researchers, both in academia and industry, as well as to gain first-hand experience of the steel casting process that I will be modelling.
It will give access to detailed experimental data on oscillation mark formation from experienced practitioners. This is invaluable to my work as there is no dedicated metal casting division in UL or Ireland. This visit was made possible by Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) funding from the Mathematics for Industry Network Cost Action. STSMs are exchange visits to an institution or laboratory in another COST country that is part of this Action. Their aim is to foster collaboration and sharing of new techniques and infrastructures.
As the funding gives preference to Early Career Investigators (up to 8 years post-PhD) such as myself this means I can begin developing my own professional network.
This trip will enable me to gain specialist casting and metallurgical knowledge which I can then transfer to the MACSI group in the UL where I am based.
Overall my experience since I began this collaboration in February 2015 has been nothing but positive. I have gained valuable experience and I have learned a great deal from experts in the field of metal casting. I hope my continuation of this collaboration in February 2016 will yield further progress for me in continuous casting modelling and aid in the completion of my PhD.
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