Numerical Simulation of Continuous Quenching and Tissue Evolution of Slender Rod Parts

The first part of this research proposes a segmented thermal boundary approach for continuous heat treatment using finite element simulation software (MSC. Marc), as well as the segmentation basis for various models. Then, using 30CrNi3MoV steel, a water quenching simulation of a thin rod is created by setting the appropriate quenching and cooling conditions, and the temperature, stress, tissue, and hardness fields are generated. Following that, the tissue fields were transformed into visual pictures of the tissue distribution using software (MATLAB) and then compared to the experimental microstructures. The results show that the segmented thermal boundary method is more compatible with real-world work conditions than the integral thermal boundary method; stress decays from the middle to both ends of the workpiece; the volume fraction of austenite transform to martensite on the workpiece’s surface is large and the hardness is high; the volume fraction of tissue transformation inside the workpiece is small and the hardness is low; and the post-treatment tissue is small and the hardness is low. Finally, the part’s experimental microstructure is compatible with the simulation results.