Papers by Author: Di Wu

Abstract: Press hardening steel is the best solution for application of extremely high strength steel in automotive structures in order to reduce the weight of body-in-white. Effect of austenitizing temperature on the grain coarsening of a press hardening steel has been investigated by using dilatometer at first. The mechanical properties of press-hardened steel austenitized at temperature between 850 to 950oC by using a pilot hot stamping line have been investigated. The strength, especially the ultimate tensile strength, was improved by the grain refinement with lower austenitization temperature.

Abstract: In the present work, a study has been made of the hot-rolling process for a transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) steel Fe-0.12C-0.5Si-1.4Mn-0.5Cr (wt%). The volume fractions of retained austenite before and after a deformation were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The microstructure was characterized by optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM) equipped with electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). A uniaxial tension text indicated that the steel possesses ultimate tensile strength of 748 MPa with yield ratio of 0.7 and elongation of 20%. The steel with the volume fraction of retained austenite of 12.5 % exhibits significant TRIP effect.

Abstract: H-beam will inevitably produce temperature uneven in cooling process, causing the uneven deformation phenomenon in H-beam cross section, and therefore how to improve H-beam cooling distortion uniformity become a research priority of H-beam. In this paper, the deformation of H-beam was simulated in the cooling process by using finite element analysis software ANSYS, and the simulation results was compared with measured data. Uneven cooling rate between up and down groove of the H-beam caused the out of square. Uneven cooling rate for the R corner and web surface was simulated, the conclusion is that uneven cooling rate for the web is the main reason of the out of square, and that of R corner is the second factor.

Abstract: Effect of coil temperature on the texture and microstructure evolution during cold rolling and annealing were investigated by OM, ODF and EBSD. The results indicate that the {223}<110> and {114}<110> textures appeared after cold rolling are inherited followed by annealing, whose intensities would be higher as the coil temperature decreased. Lower coil temperature could improve the uniformity of grain size and increase the fraction of low-angel grain boundaries as well as coincidence site lattice boundaries. And the {111}//ND texture is improved in the lower coil temperature cold and annealing steel sheet, which is beneficial for the deep-drawability.

Abstract: The effects of annealing routes (batch annealing and continuous annealing) on the development of microstructure and texture in a cold-rolled Nb-IF high strength steel sheet were studied by means of optical microscopy(OM), electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD) and ODF analysis. The results show that the finer and more homogenous recrystallization grain can be observed in the CA steel. The CA process leads to an increase in the intensity of the γ-fibers, and the very sharp and uniform γ-fibers are found in this case, which is beneficial to the deep-drawability.

Abstract: With advanced high-strength steels and high value-added steels development, it is very important to improve the cooling capacity and cooling intensity of the run out table cooling system. The key technology is to break the vapor between hot strip and cold water and to increase the direct contact area. In order to realize the ultra fast cooling, Laboratory research such as jet nozzle type selection and diameter of nozzle decision and factory tests such as cooling capacity testing have been done. Experiment results show that circular nozzle has bigger hitting power than fan-type nozzle. However, drainage capacity caused by fan-type nozzle is better than that by circular nozzle. In addition, nozzles of different diameters have nearly the same cooling capacity despite of the very different water flow. Cooling power testing results show that cooling capacity is enhanced with pressure increasing and with speed decreasing.

Abstract: In recent years, the ultra-fast cooling process is a new technology used to control the strip cooling process in the international which corresponds to an average cooling rate higher than 150°C/s. This new technology can provide an effective means to the development of low-cost and high-performance steels. In this paper, the phase transformation temperatures, microstructures and mechanical properties of a Ti microalloyed steel were investigated by means of a themomechanical simulator and a D450mm mill equipped with ultra-fast cooling device. The results show that the phase transition temperatures decreased and micro-hardness increased with the increasing of cooling rate. The microstructures of steel used ultra-fast cooling process was small and more uniform than the ones used laminar flow cooling and air cooling process, and finer and uniformity dispersed precipitates can be produced under ultra-fast cooling process, hence higher yield strength and good elongation was obtained for the steel. The ultra-fast cooling technology has a good effect on the microstructures and properties of the Ti microalloyed steel.

Abstract: Good combination of high strength and high toughness has been considered as a critical factor of ultra-high strength steel plates. In this paper, a novel high strength steel plate of HSLA type containing Cu with 910MPa yield strength and 1163MPa tensile strength has been developed using an advanced TMCP (thermo-mechanical control processing) technology. The steel plates provide excellent combination of high strength, toughness and deformability. Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of this steel during hot-working have been investigated. It is demonstrated that, at the relatively higher finish rolling temperature and cooling rate, the microstructure consists of acicular and granular bainite structures and a small amount of low bainite /martensite whose lath width is approximately 200~300nm. For the as-rolled conditions, despite the high strength and so low yield ratio, impact energy about 154J and fully ductility fracture at -90°C can still be obtained as documented for as-hot rolled plates.

Abstract: Using a Gleeble 1500 thermo-mechanical simulator, the behavior of the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of a low-silicon TRIP steel containing phosphorus and vanadium for automobiles is studied systematically. By the analysis of ture stress-strain curves, critical stress(σ_c) and strain(ε_c) are determined at different deformation conditions. The deformation activation energy Q_def is 323 kJ/mol. The ratios of ε_c/ε_p and σ_c/σ_p of the tested TRIP steel are 0.553 and 0.89, respectively. The equation for describing the Zener–Hollomn formula for tested steel is derived. A linear equation between σc, σp, εc, εp and lnZ have been established through regression analysis, respectively.

Abstract: Laboratory hot rolling experiments on a low-carbon TRIP steel containing vanadium have been carried out to study the microstructure characteristics and mechanical properties. The results showed that the multiphase microstructure with ferrite, granular bainite and retained austenite could be obtained if the finish rolling initial temperature was properly decreased and the finishing temperature was controlled in the range of Ae3~ Ar3, and the tensile strength achieved 930 MPa or above. The average ferrite grain size was about 4.5 μm in this experiment, the vanadium nitrides and vanadium carbides precipitated dispersedly within ferritic grains or at grain boundaries, and the higher dislocation density existed in ferrite matrix. EBSD analyses revealed that the high angle boundaries accounted for a large proportion and the misorientation angles were within the interval between 29° and 60° mostly. When the finishing temperature was 800°C and the final air cooling temperature was 630°C, the steel had excellent mechanical properties, which was characterized by combination of high strength(about 930MPa), high elongation(21.7%), low yield/strength ratio(0.49) and as well as high work-hardening exponent(0.23).