Papers by Author: Zhan Li Guo

Abstract: Processing parameters have direct impacts on the quality of the steels produced. This is particularly true for microalloyed steels, the production of which involves a thermomechanical controlled rolling process, which combines multi-pass hot rolling with accelerated cooling. On one hand, hot rolling may finish below A₃ temperature when austenite starts to transform to ferrite. On the other hand, controlled cooling is applied to obtain the desired microstructure from austenite decomposition. To optimise the TMCP parameters of such alloys, not only a clear understanding of each metallurgical phenomenon involved is required, but also the interactions among them. This paper reports our recent work on modelling of microstructural evolution and deformation resistance during multi-pass hot rolling of steels. The model considers the following metallurgical phenomena as well as their interactions: - Precipitation of MX type carbides, nitrides or carbonitrides. - Interactions between precipitation and recrystallisation and their effects on grain refinement. - Effect of grain size and cooling path on transformations from austenite to ferrite, pearlite, bainite and martensite. - Effect of rolling parameters, recrystallisation and microstructure on the deformation resistance of the alloy. The model predicts the evolution of microstructural features such as precipitate size and amount, recrystallisation fraction and effective strain, grain size, and austenite decomposition, as well as the alloy’s deformation resistance during hot rolling. It has been applied to a wide range of steels and demonstrated good agreement with experimental observations. Therefore, it has the great potential to be implemented in a production line to help optimise the rolling schedule for both C-Mn and microalloyed steels.

Abstract: The introduction of materials modelling into computer-aided engineering (CAE) processing simulation has become popular in recent years, whereas the fundamental challenge lies in the development of material models that can calculate the properties essential for processing design and simulation. This paper reviews the recent development of such models and the material data that can be calculated include physical, thermophysical, and mechanical properties, as well as phase transformation kinetics. The calculated material data has been used as input to numerous CAE packages for the simulation of casting, welding, forming and heat treatments. Two case studies are presented here, one on the simulation of residual stress in linear friction welding of titanium alloys, and the other on the prediction of distortion and residual stress in heat-treated large steel rings.

Abstract: This paper reports the framework of a computer model that calculates the precipitation kinetics of MX type carbides or carbonitrides from austenite matrix in microalloyed steels during hot rolling. The kinetic model is based on the classical Johnson-Mehl-Avrami theory adapted to include the saturation of nucleation sites. The effect of deformation on precipitation kinetics is quantitatively described through its effect on flow stress, from which the number of potential nucleation sites can be estimated. The time-temperature precipitation diagram can then be calculated for a given alloy chemistry and deformation conditions. A preliminary study has been carried out to test its performance in both undeformed and deformed conditions.

Abstract: This paper uses a combination of thermodynamic calculation and kinetic simulation to model the homogenisation process of cast microstructure for multi-component alloys. The approach assumes that the solute segregation profile across the half dendrite arm spacing can be scaled to the solute concentration profile during solidification as generated by a Scheil type calculation. When secondary phases dissolve during homogenisation, they are treated as an additional fraction of pseudo-eutectic to the initial solute concentration profile of the primary solution phase. The methodology is compared with the assumptions made by other authors, highlighting the significant advantages in the present treatment. Examples are drawn from a cast nickel-based superalloy.

Abstract: The strength of nickel-based superalloys usually consists of solid solution strengthening from the gamma matrix and precipitation hardening due to the gamma' and/or gamma" precipitates. In the present work, a model was developed to calculate the high temperature strength of nickel-based superalloys, where the temperature dependence of each strengthening contribution was accounted for separately. The high temperature strength of these alloys is not only a function of microstructural changes in the material, but the result of a competition between two deformation modes, i.e. the normal low to mid temperature tensile deformation and deformation via a creep mode. Extensive validation had been carried out during the model development. Good agreement between calculated and experimental results has been achieved for a wide range of nickel-based superalloys, including solid solution alloys and precipitation-hardened alloys with different type/amount of precipitates. This model has been applied to two newly developed superalloys and is proved to be able to make predictions to within useful accuracy.

Abstract: Many Aluminium alloys use the precipitation of metastable phases to generate optimum properties. The effect of including additional structures such as θ’ and GP zones is described in the context of a hierarchy of metastable structures. Extending a Thermodynamic data base that has been designed solely to deal with equilibrium conditions is a vital prerequisite to handling the heattreatment of aluminium alloys. It is then possible to generate TTT and CCT diagrams, using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami treatment previously applied in to other materials providing provision is made for the presence of supersaturated quenched-in vacancies. Calculations using JMatPro are given for the expected behavior of commercial aluminium alloys of increasing complexity, including AA319, AA6061 and AA7075.