Modeling microstructure evolution during thermomechanical processing and heat treatment of steels and predicting their mechanical properties

An integral computer model/program AusEvol Pro was developed to describe the evolution of steel microstructure during thermomechanical processing (hot rolling, forging), as well as subsequent heat treatment (normalization, tempering), and to evaluate the final mechanical properties (yield stress, tensile stress, elongation), hardness and impact toughness. The program implements a set of physically based models that allow quantitative description of all significant processes of steel structure formation with account of the effects of chemical composition both during thermomechanical processing and heat treatment. Calculations of the final mechanical properties are carried out using the developed models that take into account all physically meaningful contributions. The models created are verified both on the extensive database of our own experimental studies and on reliable data from literature for steels of various chemical compositions.