3rd International Workshop Surface quality of continuously cast products – IWSQ-3

Session

SURFACE QUALITY PREDICTION IN CC AT THE CROSSROADS: FROM PHENOMENOLOGICAL MODELS TO DATA DRIVEN MODELS AND HYBRID APPROACHES

13 Mar 2026, 13:00

Hotel Weitzer Graz

Conveners

SURFACE QUALITY PREDICTION IN CC AT THE CROSSROADS: FROM PHENOMENOLOGICAL MODELS TO DATA DRIVEN MODELS AND HYBRID APPROACHES

• Christian Bernhard (Montanuniversität Leoben)

10. AI powered surface inspection for billets - next generation quality control

Gerald Klösch (voestalpine Stahl Donawitz)

13/03/2026, 13:00

Surface quality prediction in cc at the crossroads: From phenomenological models to data driven models and hybrid approaches

Oral Presentation

Rising demands on the surface quality and the necessity for 100% inspected billets are requested by the customers. Surface defects on billets, like longitudinal or transversal cracks, can – if not removed e.g. by grinding - lead to increased reject rates, or in the worst case to a complete production stop, in the further rolling process route.
The surface inspection at voestalpine Stahl...

20. Utilization of Artificial Neural Networks for Prediction of the Slab Surface Crack Formation

Sung-Suk Jung (Posco)

13/03/2026, 13:25

Surface quality prediction in cc at the crossroads: From phenomenological models to data driven models and hybrid approaches

Oral Presentation

Designing the continuous casting process of advanced high strength steels(AHSS) requires precise simulation of fracture formation based on high-temperature properties of steel grades and casting conditions in order to minimize surface defects of the slab. Reduction of area(RA) as an indicator of ductility was utilized to correlate with the cracking performance of the continuous caster of...

7. Phenomenological prediction of surface defects: Fundamentals, tools, and results from slab casting

Julius Norrena (University of Oulu)

13/03/2026, 13:50

Surface quality of long and flat semis: Plant results and lab experiments

Oral Presentation

The surface quality of continuously-cast products remains an important research topic due to its economic and practical implications for steelmakers. Surface quality problems are generally attributed to the presence of various kinds of defects originating from continuous casting. While the root causes of defects can be considered well-defined in scientific literature today, a frequent...

6. AI-Enhanced Mold Monitoring

Oliver Lang (Primetals Technologies Austria)

13/03/2026, 14:15

Surface quality prediction in cc at the crossroads: From phenomenological models to data driven models and hybrid approaches

Oral Presentation

The quality of continuously cast slabs is strongly influenced by steel grade and casting parameters. The Strand Quality Index (SQI) enables probabilistic prediction of crack formation based on these factors. By integrating the Mold Expert, which calculates depressions in the mold using temperature profiles, the SQI now receives additional event information, significantly improving the accuracy...

4. Process Chain Sensitivities in Green Steel Production: Tramp Element Impacts on Casting, Reheating and Descaling

Georg Gaiser (Montanuniveristaet Leoben)

13/03/2026, 14:40

Surface quality prediction in cc at the crossroads: From phenomenological models to data driven models and hybrid approaches

Oral Presentation

The transition toward low-carbon steelmaking increases the reliance on scrap-based electric arc furnace routes, inevitably introducing higher levels of tramp elements such as Cu and Sn. Because these elements cannot be removed through conventional metallurgical refining, they may influence subsequent process steps. Their distinct oxidation behavior promotes the formation of low-melting,...