used when physical contact is not achieved. All other thermal and electrical properties were
taken from [5].
Figure 4 Electrical Contact Resistance at the Cast Iron to Cathode Block Interface.
The assumed mechanical constitutive laws are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1 - Assumed mechanical material models.
Material
Material Model
Reference
Cathode Block, semi-graphitic (30%)
Quasi-Brittle
[7]
Collector Bar
Elastic
[9]
Cast Iron
Elastic
[9]
Pier
Elastic
[9]
Ramming Paste
Reactive Quasi-Brittle
[8]
Side Block
Quasi-Brittle
[7]
Castable
Quasi-Brittle
[7]
Boundary Conditions and Loads
Since most of lining is free to move in the vertical upward direction, gravity must be included to
stabilize the problem. This is the only external mechanical load considered.