Application of advanced numerical material models for the simulation of a thermal shock on a ladle shroud

• Evaluation of LGED, PF-CZM, and CDP models for thermomechanical behaviour of ladle shrouds. • PF-CZM and CDP models deliver localized damage predictions. • PF-CZM excels in numerical stability. • LGED struggles with overly wide fracture process zone. • Inclusion of creep delays crack development. This study investigates three different numerical models (Localizing Gradient-Enhanced Damage (LGED), Phase-Field Cohesive Zone Model (PF-CZM), and Concrete Damage Plasticity (CDP)) for the simulation of the thermo-mechanical behaviour of ladle shroud. Ladle shrouds are essential in steelmaking, ensuring molten steel purity during transfer under extreme conditions. Because creep is a decisive factor, the Norton-Bailey creep model is applied to capture time-dependent high-temperature inelastic deformation. Results reveal that PF-CZM and CDP models excel in localized damage prediction, while LGED produces unphysically wide fracture zones. Creep reduces elastic energy in the system, delaying fracture. These insights enhance understanding of refractory behaviour, guiding optimized ladle shroud design to improve performance and reduce steelmaking costs.