According to different discrete methods, the solution methods of numerical model in lost foam casting solidification process mainly include finite difference method (FDM), finite element method (FEM) and boundary element method (BEM).
Compared with FEM, FDM mesh processing is more convenient and efficient. FDM method is the most widely used in software application. Many commercial lost foam casting process simulation systems mostly use this method, but the finite difference mesh is square, the description of complex geometry of geometric contour is less realistic, and it can not be used for stress calculation or stress coupling calculation by other algorithms.
The figure shows the comparison between FEM mesh and FDM mesh in describing the geometric contour of complex 3D model.