PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The purpose of the research is to model and simulate the temperature variations in heat treatment processes so that the part load and thermal schedule can be optimized while the quality is ensured.

CHT-bf is a pc-based software tool to model and simulate the thermal process in batch furnace. For given parts and furnace condition, the temperature profile of parts in different locations in furnace can be estimated through heat transfer analysis. Therefore, the temperature uniformity can be evaluated under different part load and thermal schedule. The load can be arranged or random, and with or without fixture. The furnace can be vacuum, atmosphere, electric, and direct fire furnaces. The system is developed with a comprehensive database with more 500 materials and user friendly interface.

CHT-cf is a pc-based software tool to model and simulate the thermal process in continuous furnace. Similar to CHT-bf, for given parts and furnace condition, the temperature profile of parts in different locations in furnace can be estimated through heat transfer analysis. Therefore, the temperature uniformity can be evaluated under different part load and thermal schedule. The load can be arranged or random, and with or without fixture. The furnaces considered in the system include: mesh belt, cast belt, continuous/conveyor belt, pusher, shaker, walking beam, and screw hearth furnaces. The temperature uniformity is evaluated in both time and spacial domains.

CHT-cast is a finite difference method (FDM) based modeling and simulation system for heat treatment analysis of aluminum castings. It includes the analyses of casting, furnace heating, solutionizing, and quenching. It predicts the materials properties after the heat treatment. Therefore the heat treatment process can be optimized for materials property control and process efficiency improvement.

CHT-q/t is a new program to be developed, which integrates the furnace model with quenching and tempering processes of the entire load. Besides thermal analysis of the load during heating up and cooling down, the microstructure and materials properties will be analyzed.

IINDUCTION HARDENING is a finite elelment method (FEM) based analysis of the induction hardening process. The AC electric, meganetic, and induction heating generation fields are modeled first. The heat transfer in heating and quech cooling is simulated. Then the hardness distribution in the part is evaluated based on a martensite content analysis.