Title: Coupled fluid flow, heat transfer, phase transformation, stress and deformation numerical model for gas quenching

Authors: J-F. Douce, J.P. Bellot, S. Denis, F. Chaffotte, G. Pellegrino, F. Gouhinec, P. Lamesle, J. Maury

Addresses: LSG2M (UMR 7584 CNRS/INPL/UHP), Ecole des Mines de Nancy, Parc de Saurupt, 54042 Nancy Cedex, France. ' LSG2M (UMR 7584 CNRS/INPL/UHP), Ecole des Mines de Nancy, Parc de Saurupt, 54042 Nancy Cedex, France. ' LSG2M (UMR 7584 CNRS/INPL/UHP), Ecole des Mines de Nancy, Parc de Saurupt, 54042 Nancy Cedex, France. ' Air Liquide, Centre de Recherche Claude Delorme, BP 126, 78354 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France. ' Air Liquide, Centre de Recherche Claude Delorme, BP 126, 78354 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France. ' Air Liquide, Centre de Recherche Claude Delorme, BP 126, 78354 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France. ' CROMEP, Ecole des Mines d'Albi-Carmaux, Campus Jalard – Route de Teillet, 81013 ALBI CT Cedex 09, France. ' CROMEP, Ecole des Mines d'Albi-Carmaux, Campus Jalard – Route de Teillet, 81013 ALBI CT Cedex 09, France

Abstract: Owing to the growing interest in high-pressure gas quenching, a complete mathematical modelling of this process has been launched with the aim of predicting the microstructural and mechanical state of steel bodies from the quenching operating conditions. The comprehensive numerical modelling combines the calculation of fluid flow and heat transport for the gaseous phase (using Fluent software) and calculation of heat conduction, solid-state phase transformations and residual stresses and distortions in the solid body (using Sysweld software). Our numerical results are compared to the experimental data obtained from a laboratory gas-quenching device set up at the Ecole des Mines d|Albi. Helium- and nitrogen-quenching trials were performed for nickel and 27MnCr5 steel cylinders. The measured gas flow velocities are compared to gas velocities calculated with the Fluent-Sysweld coupling, as well as the temperature evolutions at different locations in the cylinders. On the other hand, the ability of the model for predicting microstructure, residual stresses and deformations is illustrated with the gas quenching of a 60NiCrMo11 steel cylinder.

Keywords: gas quenching; numerical simulation; heat treatment; mathematical modelling; fluid flow; heat transfer; phase transformation; residual stress; deformation; microstructure; gas velocities; steel cylinders.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2008.018399

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2008 Vol.3 No.1, pp.150 - 161

Published online: 20 May 2008 *

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