Numerical Simulation of Thermal Stress Fields during Gas Quenching

Abstract

In this paper, based on the analysis of coupled action of temperature, phase transformation and stress, the phase transformation condition and equation related to the thermal physical properties are discussed, and the transient temperature distribution of a Cr12 steel cylinder workpiece during gas quenching was obtained by solving the governing equations with a nonlinear boundary. According to the theories of thermal non-elasticity, computational mechanics and phase transformation, a new constitutive equation considering effects of phase transformation with a nonlinear surface heat transfer coefficient is proposed and is solved by means of finite element method (FEM). The thermal stress field is obtained and a way of simulating the technology of the heat treatment by computer is explored.