Experimental-numerical approach to efficient TTT-generation for simulation of phase transformations in thermomechanical forming processes

Residual stresses in components are an important issue in most manufacturing processes, as they influence the performance of the final part. Regarding hot forming processes there is a great potential of defining a targeted residual stress state, due to numerous adjustment parameters like deformation state or temperature profile. In order to ensure appropriate numerical modelling of resulting residual stresses in a thermomechanical process, comprehensive material data regarding phase transformation are required. This paper presents an experimental-numerical procedure to efficiently determine time-temperature-transformation diagrams for cooling simulations after hot forming. The transformation behaviour of the steel alloys 42CrMo4 and 100Cr6 is determined by experiments as well as FE-simulations. Finally, the simulation model is validated by dilatometric experiments and metallographic investigations