Induction hardening is a surface heat treatment, which has many advantages compared to thermo-chemical processes such as carbonization and nitriding. This process offers an attractive combination of speed, consistency and control. However, the thermoelectromagnetic coupling makes this heat treatment hard to master. To avoid very expensive and time consuming experimental tests, industrials rely on simulations to predict the thermal history and the final structural state of the heated part.
The objective of this master thesis is to develop a simulation model able to predict the temperature distribution during the induction heating of a steel AISI 4340 disc. First, a 2D axisymetric model is set up using the multiphysic software COMSOL. The numerical model takes into consideration the thermo-electromagnetic coupling of the process as well as the non-linear behavior of material properties as function of temperature and magnetic field. Then, a sensitivity study is performed in order to quantify the effect of the material properties’ variations on the temperature at the surface. Results show that the relative magnetic permeability is the material property that most significantly influences surface temperatures. Finally, by adjusting the material properties, the developed model was able to reproduce, with a good precision, the thermal history of the heated part.
| Date | 22 Jun 2017 |
|---|
| Original language | French |
|---|
| Awarding Institution | - École de technologie supérieure
|
|---|
| Supervisor | Philippe Bocher (Supervisor) |
|---|
Senhaji, A. (Author),
Bocher (Supervisor),
22 Jun 2017Student thesis: Master's thesis › Master in Engineering: Engineering