Book excerpt: Pulling together information previously scattered throughout numerous research articles into one detailed resource, this book connects the fundamentals of structure formation during solidification with the practically observed structure and defect patterns in billets and ingots. The author examines the formation of a structure, properties, and defects in the as-cast material in tight correlation to the physical phenomena involved in the solidification and the process parameters. Compiling recent results and data, the book discusses the fundamentals of solidification together with metallurgical and technological aspects of DC casting. It gives new insight and perspective into DC casting research.