Explanation of the origin of quench distortion and residual stress in specimens using computer simulation

Abstract

Measurements of distortion and internal residual stresses after quenching in specimens (e.g., cylinders, disks, rings) have been performed for many years. As a result, patterns of distortion and stress distribution have been identified in the typical shapes, steels and cooling conditions. These experimental data were examined by pioneers of the heat treatment simulation for verifying their computer programs in the 1970s and 1980s. However, early researchers did not fully explain the mechanism of distortion and residual stress generation based on their simulated results. A way to explain the generation mechanism using simulated results, especially distributions of all types of strains, has been recently developed and successfully applied to some experimental works by the authors of this paper. Its concept is described briefly, and its applications for some specimens are summarised.