Physically based modeling, characterization and design of an induction hardening process for a new slurry pipeline steel

Abstract

Numerical and Gleeble experimental data are combined to predict potential microstructure and hardness profiles through the wall thickness of an induction hardened slurry transportation pipe made of a recently developed 0.4 wt% C, Nb-microalloyed steel. The calculated thermal history of various positions through the wall thickness of an industrial pipe (400 mm diameter, 10 mm thick) were combined with a model that predicts the phase transformations, microstructures and final hardness values on heating and cooling along arbitrary thermal cycles. The accuracy of the hardness profile predictions was verified by experimental data, i.e. reproducing the thermal cycles on a Gleeble thermomechanical simulator. The results indicated that the approach should be a feasible way to optimize induction heating and cooling parameters to obtain desired hardness profiles through the wall thickness. Keywords: Induction hardening, Heating rate, Continuous cooling, Induction hardening simulation, Dilatometry