Use of controlled heat treatment to predict mechanical properties in steel components

Abstract

This paper investigates the non-destructive, experimental determination of mechanical properties, at any location within large steel forgings, through the use of controlled heat treatment. Industrial time–temperature data from heat treatment furnaces have been used as the surface temperature boundary condition in finite element models. The models have been used to determine the thermal history at specific locations of interest within a 95 tonne forging. Application of the predicted thermal history to a laboratory sized sample of material, using controlled heat treatment, results in macroscale material that has an identical thermal history to the points of interest within the forging. This sample material has been mechanically tested and compared to mechanical test results from the forging itself.

Keywords:

• Steel
• Mechanical properties
• Heat treatment
• Finite element modelling

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Innovate UK, the Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for their financial assistance with this work as part of Technology Strategy Board project TSB101426.