H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
I
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
I
a) with Shunts
A:20 B:136 C:252 D:369 E:485 F:601 G:717 H:834 I:949 (ºC)
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
I
H
G
F
E
D
C
B
A
I
b) Full Line Load
Figure 11 Temperature Distribution after 48 hours.
An interesting effect of the transient diffusion of heat into the lining is that the extent of baking of
the ramming paste changes with the use of shunts, as shown in Figure 12. Note that the local
baking index is defined as the paste local compressive strength normalized to its strength at full
baking (refer to [13] for more details). With the full line load case, the paste in the line of action
of the cathode block is more rigid and less plastic than with the use of shunts, and its ductility is
less. This allows a larger pressure to build up at the paste to cathode block interface, but will
also reduce the ability of the paste to accommodate the expansion of the cathode block when