Courtesy: INA
2
2 Technical Background
The technical background of heat treatment is quite complex. It involves heat transfer, phase transformations
and mechanics including phase transformation.
1
4.3 Heat Transfer Coefficient Wizard
Where information for a specific quenching medium is not yet accessible in the SYSWELD database, it is
necessary to adjust the convective heat transfer coefficient of the quenching medium as a function of the
temperature. Measurements of cooling rate and temperature over time performed with ISO or JIS probes are
usually available through the vendor of the quenching media. Even so the quality-assured European and
Japanese measurement specifications have been included in SYSWELD. By performing a few simple
recursive computations, the convective heat transfer coefficient of the quenching media can be easily
evaluated for the defined specimen. It is important to notice that the values obtained will then give a good
starting point to compute good behavior tendencies on the real parts. The higher the BIOT numbers typical
for the real part the more precise will be the computations using the evaluated heat transfer coefficient. The
lower the BIOT numbers, the higher will be the sensitivity of the computed results against variations in the
convective heat transfer coefficient depending not only on temperature but also on space coordinates.
It is important to notice that the adjustment has to be done only once for each quenching media. The results
can be stored in a database and are then accessible for further computations via a mouse-click.
Figure 5: Heat exchange coefficient fitting – Comparison of measured data with computed
results
2
4.4 Fitting the Martensite Transformation
Where information is not yet accessible in the SYSWELD database, it is necessary to adjust (especially for
case hardening simulations)- the martensite transformation depending on the carbon content, the martensite
start temperature depending on the carbon content and the retained austenite proportion at room temperature
depending on the carbon content. The martensite start temperatures (dependent on the carbon content) and
the retained proportions of austenite (dependent on the carbon content) are usually known. Based on this
data, fine-tuning of the parameters relation to the Koistinen Marburger law (which describes the martensite
transformation by mathematical means) can be performed, making use of the SYSWELD PHASE module.
It is important to notice that the adjustment has to be done only once for each steel. The results can be stored
in a database and are then accessible for further computations via a mouse-click.
3
Figure 7: CCT-diagram of a 100Cr6 steel – source [12]
4
Figure 8: Intuitive and straightforward set up of a heat treatment simulation with the Heat
Treatment Wizard
Figure 9: Launching a computation – the only work necessary is to load the project name
6
Figure 11: Simulation of a gear component as simulated in the C.A.S.H. project made from
483.103 nodes and 1.889.096 elements on a single processor computer. Courtesy
DaimlerChrysler AG
Figure 14: Computed final yield stress (the yield stress depends on the composition of phases)
displayed on cross-sections through the structure
8
Figure 15: Cooling rates displayed over the CCT-diagram – examination of critical points
where the hardness is too low or missing
Of specific interest is the capability to review movies on the evolution of results, step by step, for all
important results on the surface or through the structure. The simultaneous display of the evolution of results
gives a deep understanding of process and computed results.
Figure 16: Step by step display of generated movies of important results in JASC Animation
Shop©
9
Figure 17: Temperature field at the beginning of the quenching – Courtesy VSTC
Figure 19: Comparison of computed and measured hardness of a jominy test of 16MnCr5
11
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Way to Work
• The Most Important Tips and Tricks
• Access to Electronic Manuals – Getting Info from Manuals
• Advanced Information
• How to Present Results in an Effective Format
• Step by Step Example
• Case and Through Hardening – Getting it Right
• Assessment of Case Hardening Simulation
• A Diffusion Based Case Hardening Simulation – A Tutorial
12
References
[1] Denis S., Gauthier E., Simon A. & Beck G., "Stress/phase transformation interactions: basic principles,
modelization and their role in the calculation of internal stresses", Proc. Int. Symp. on the Calculation of
Internal Stresses in Heat Treatment of Metallic Materials, Vol. 1, pp 157-190, Linkoping (Sweden), 1984
[2] Bergheau J.M. & Leblond J.B., "Coupling between heat flow, metallurgy and stress-strain computations in
steels - The approach developped in the computer code SYSWELD for welding or quenching", Proc. of Vth
Eng. Found. Conf. on Modeling of casting, welding and Advanced Solidification Processes Davos
(Switzerland), 1990
[3] Leblond J.B. & Devaux J.C., "A new kinetic model for anisothermal metallurgical transformations in steel
including effect of austenite grain size", Acta Metallurgica, Vol. 32, n°1, pp 137-146, 1984
[4] Fernandes F., "Modélisation et calcul de l'évolution de la température et de la microstructure au cours du
refroidissement des aciers", Thèse de Doctorat de l'INPL, Nancy, 1985
[5] Leblond J.B., Mottet G. & Devaux J.C., "A theoretical and numerical approach to the plastic behavior of steels
during phase transformation, I: Derivation of general relations, II: Study of classical plasticity for ideal-plastic
phases", Jour. of the Mech. and Phys. of Solids, Vol. 34, n°4, pp 395-432, 1986
[6] Leblond J.B., Devaux J. & Devaux J.C., "Mathematical modelling of transformation plasticity in steels, I: Case
of ideal-plastic phases, II: Coupling with strain-hardening phenomena", Int. Jour. of Plasticity, Vol. 5, pp 551-
591, 1989
[7] Fortunier R., Leblond J.B., Pont D. & Bergheau J.M., "Récents développements dans la simulation numérique
des traitements thermochimiques des aciers", 9th Int. Conf. on Heat Treatment and Surface Engineering, Nice
(France), 1994
[8] Großer Atlas Schweiß-ZTU-Schaubilder: Fachbuchreihe Schweißtechnik, DVS-Verlag GmbH Düsseldorf,
1992
[9] Dieter Liedke, Rolf Jönsson: Wärmebehandlung, Expert Verlag, 1996
[10] Karl Heeß und 14 Mitautoren: Maß- und Formänderung infolge Wärmebehandlung, Expert Verlag,
1997
[11] Ruth Chatterjee-Fischer und 8 Mitautoren: Wärmebehandlung von Eisenwerkstoffen, Nitrieren und
Nitrocarburieren, Expert Verlag, 1995
[12] Atlas zur Wärmebehandlung der Stähle, herausgegeben vom Max-Planck Institut für
Eisenforschung, in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Werkstoffaussschuss des Vereins Deutscher
Eisenhüttenleute, Band 2 von Adolf Rose und Hans Hougardy, Verlag Stahleisen m.b.H., Düsseldorf
13