Induction Hardening
The Induction Hardening multiphysics interface combines the Austenite Decomposition, Heat Transfer in Solids, and Solid Mechanics interfaces with the The Magnetic Fields Interface. This is the most specialized interface of the Metal Processing Module. Its purpose is to simulate the particular heat treatment process where a steel part is induction heated using a coil, and subsequently quenched. The multiphysics interface couples the constituent interfaces so that effects of latent heat, phase transformation strains, and electromagnetic heating can be included in the analysis. Figure 2-5 shows how this information is passed between the interfaces. Phase compositions, distortions, and residual stresses can be computed using the Induction Hardening multiphysics interface.
Figure 2-5: The constituent interfaces of the Induction Hardening multiphysics interface.
For cooling, the multiphysics interface is identical to the Steel Quenching multiphysics interface, but in order to model induction heating, a Magnetic Fields interface is used together with an Electromagnetic Heating multiphysics coupling.
Note that the Austenite Decomposition interface used in the Induction Hardening multiphysics interface does not add Phase Transformation nodes for heating. Depending on the phase composition of the steel prior to induction heating, and depending on the level of modeling detail that is warranted, one or more Phase Transformation nodes should be added to model austenitization.