A new optimization procedure for the accurate characterization of thermal phase transformation curves based on controlled quenching experiments

Abstract

Precise hardness and phase content prediction for quenched steel with the finite element method requires optimal material data, which is usually obtained from measured continuous cooling transformation (CCT) diagrams. However, most software packages that are able to predict final phase composition require time temperature transformation (TTT) diagrams. TTT diagrams can be calculated from the chemical composition of the material. With this methods the numerical prediction often result in deviations to reality. A newly developed optimization method can improve the accuracy of phase content and hardness prediction after quenching by optimizing the TTT diagram with measured data of controlled quenching experiments.