The mechanical properties of the vacuum assisted high pressure die casting magnesium alloy shock towers were analyzed by tensile testing

and its microstructure were analyzed by SEM

OM and EDS. The vacuum assisted high pressure die casting filling process was simulated using EKKCapcast software

and the porosity of different positions of the shock towers were compared

and then the origination of air entrapment in the casting was analyzed. The results reveal that the mechanical properties of shock towers are little affected when the switchover position is varied between 560 mm and 600 mm. The analysis of the tensile fracture reveals that the gas pore is responsible for the low mechanical properties of the shock towers at the local location. The possible location and severity of air entrapment were predicted effectively by means of simulation.