Title: Computer modelling of as-quenched hardness and microstructure composition of steel

Authors: Božo Smoljan; Dario Iljkić; Zvonimir Kolumbić

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia ' Faculty of Engineering, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Rijeka, Vukovarska 58, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia ' Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Department of Polytechnics, University of Rijeka, Sveučilišna avenija 4, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract: Industry needs to control and to optimise the process parameters of the steel quenching can be accomplished by considering achievement of desired mechanical properties and microstructure distribution. A joined thermometallurgical approach is applied to complete the numerical model of phenomena of steel quenching. Because of wide range of applicability and ease of use of finite volume method (FVM), this numerical method was suitable to create integrated computer program for simulation of transient temperature field, microstructure transformations and mechanical properties during a quenching of steel components. The computer model of steel quenching has been applied for simulation of quenching of steel die components of complex form. By experimental verification of the computer simulation results, it has been found out that phenomena of steel quenching could be successfully described by the proposed computer model.

Keywords: steel quenching; computer modelling; microstructure; mechanical properties; die components; hardness; thermometallurgy; finite volume method; FVM; simulation; transient temperature.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2015.068715

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2015 Vol.10 No.2, pp.86 - 100

Published online: 10 Apr 2015 *

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