Abstract
	In this work, numerical simulations of mold-filling and solidification of a Cu-5%Zn alloy were performed by using a finite element technique. In order to accomplish this work, the finite-element technique and the ANSYS software program were used. The mold filling process was simulated in atmospheric conditions under gravity and the liquid metal was poured into the mold through a mold channel.  The temperature profiles generated at t =3 s during the mold filling process was considered as a boundary condition and all the thermophysical properties for the alloy and for the sand mold were considered as a function of temperature. The simulations have also taken into account three forms of latent heat release: linear, exponential (Scheil) and sinusoid behavior as a function of the solid fraction, and their effects on the solidification behavior were analyzed. The following results were obtained: velocity, temperature distribution, pressure fields and the solid fraction during mold-filling; and thermal field, heat flux, temperature gradients and cooling curves in the metal and in the mold during solidification.  The advantage of the present simulation is to analyze several phenomena present in the mold filling process which is not trivial to be experimentally visualized, and can be determinant for the solidification stage.