Image made using the COMSOL Multiphysics® software.
Carburization and Quenching of a Steel Gear.
When a material like steel or cast iron undergoes heating or cooling from an elevated temperature, metallurgical phase transformations may occur. The Metal Processing Module is designed to perform transient analyses of processes involving metallurgical (solid-solid) phase transformations in, mainly, steels. It helps you study how these phase transformations affect the mechanical and thermal properties of the materials. The module includes functionality for modeling phase transformations that are deliberate (such as in steel quenching and carburization) and introduced inadvertently (in additive manufacturing and welding, for example), as well as functionality for annealing.
This model simulates arc welding of a titanium plate made from an alpha-beta titanium alloy. During a weld pass, the material experiences a thermal transient, including both heating and cooling. Phase transformations are modeled, and the evolution of the phase composition over time is computed.
A steel billet is quenched in oil from its austenitic state. A 2D axisymmetric model is used to simulate the coupled problem of austenite decomposition, heat transfer, and solid mechanics. During the quenching process, the austenite decomposes into a combination of ferrite, pearlite, bainite, and martensite. Phase transformation strains resulting from thermal expansion and transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) are computed. The resulting residual stress state is computed.
This model shows how to simulate carburization and quenching of a steel gear. Diffusion of carbon into the surface of the gear affects the onset of martensitic transformation. Residual stresses are computed, and it is shown that high residual compressive stresses appear at the root of the gear.
A 2D model of a steel bar is used to simulate oil quenching from an austenitic state. Both diffusive and displacive phase transformations are used, and the phase composition is computed in the radial direction of the bar.
A 3D model is used to simulate the cooling of a bevel gear from an austenitic state. Phase material properties and phase transformation data are imported into the model. The final phase composition and the residual stress state are computed. Phenomena such as thermal strains, phase plasticity, transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP), and phase transformation latent heat are included in the simulation.
