B. L. Ferguson, Z. Li, Deformation Control Technology, Inc., Cleveland, OH

Summary: Computer simulation of heat treatment of steel parts requires detailed knowledge of the steel’s mechanical, thermal and metallurgical behavior. Standard test methods exist for determining the raw property data needed. Mechanical properties include the elastic and plastic properties of the alloy for the individual phases over the range of temperature, strain and strain rate levels experienced during the heat treatment. The plastic behavior is captured by controlled temperature, strain and strain rate tests. The effects of temperature and time on the metallurgical phases are captured by dilatometry tests. In both kinetics and mechanical test data, optimization methods may be used to automate the analysis of the raw data to determine the parameters required by the computer models. This presentation highlights the testing requirements and the methodology used to produce material data required for computer simulation of heat treatment