Finite element method applied to the quenching of steel cylinders using a multi-phase constitutive model

Heat treatment processes are usually employed to control the mechanical properties of steels and quenching is one of the most common treatments. This article deals with the modeling and simulation of quenching in steel cylinders using a multi-phase constitutive model. Finite element method is employed for spatial discretization. Numerical simulations are carried out by considering an iterative process associated with the operator split technique. Initially, a verification procedure is of concern establishing a comparison between numerical and experimental data, presenting a good agreement. Afterward, notched steel cylinders are treated evaluating the influence of notches in quenched pieces. Temperature, phase transformations and stresses are monitored during the quenching in order to give a general idea of the thermomechanical behavior of the process.