H. D. Brody, J. Feng, F. Yi, Y. Ma, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; J. E. Morral, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH

Summary: As part of a program to develop integrated software for the modeling of the heat treatment of aluminum alloys, sponsored by the Center for Heat Treatment Excellence and the department of Energy, the influence of solution heat treatment on as-cast microstructure and on tensile properties of aluminum castings is being modeled. One approach is to develop empirical models that link tensile properties with a minimum set of key processing parameters. The second approach is to extend thermodynamic and kinetic models previously applied to cast binary alloys to multicomponent, multiphase aluminum alloys for automotive and aerospace applications. Experimental validation of the models is used to expand our understanding of the interaction of casting and heat treatment processes, to expand and calibrate thermodynamic and diffusion databases, and to iteratively improve the models.