SIMHEAT®

Processes

Case hardening

Nitriding

Annealing / Tempering

Controlled cooling

Austenizing

Solutionizing

Artificial ageing

Perfectly dedicated to induction heat treating

Induction heat treatment simulation provides comprehensive information about temperature gradient from surface to core and also the location of areas where phase transformations occur.

SIMHEAT® can monitor the impact of current frequency, coil geometry and even concentrators’ location within the heat affected zone. Material modelling considers electrical and magnetic properties that are temperature-dependent.

SIMHEAT® is perfectly dedicated to induction hardening with :

A multi-physics approach to capture ‘mechanical-electromagnetic-metallurgical’ phenomena
Monitor inductors & concentrators in motion to image rotating parts and induction equipment (e.g. case hardening of a crankshaft)
Up-to-date modelling of the generators that adjusts current intensity and frequency to maintain prescribed nominal power values
Prediction of heat affected zone and metallurgical transformations to identify austenized areas prior to quenching
Local mesh adaptation based on the temperature penetration depth

SIMHEAT_vilebrequin1 Simulation of induction heat treatment of a crankshaft: temperature evolution

Local phase transformation with appearance of austenite

A series of innovative functionalities

SIMHEAT_case_hardening_gear_teeth_hardness SIMHEAT® has a lot of interesting features:

Full compatibility with JMatPro® database
Generation of Kirkaldy-based TTT diagram for low-alloy steel grades
Import tailored CCT diagram in text format
Carburizing: offset of transformation kinetics as a function of carbon rate
Age hardening based on Shercliff-Ashby models for heat-treatable aluminium alloys
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Distortion models applicable to any kind of metal including aeronautic alloys
Material sensor tracking to plot characteristics over processing
Models for oxide scale thickness growth and spalling due to deformation

Exhaustive results: temperature, phase transformation, HV or HRC hardness, distortion, residual stress, yield stress, carbon and nitrogen concentration, etc.

A fully integrated solution in the Transvalor suite

SIMHEAT® can be used as a standalone solution or in combination with Transvalor software. The perfect interoperability guarantees seamless results transfer from one solution to another.

It can be used with:

THERCAST®: for the simulation of foundry processes, continuous casting and ingot casting.
COLDFORM®: for the simulation of cold forming processes.
TRANSWELD®: for the simulation of welding processes and assembly.
DIGIMU®: for the simulation of microstructural evolution.

All the capabilities and functionalities of SIMHEAT® are also integrated in our FORGE® software, dedicated to the simulation of hot, semi-hot and cold forming processes.

Industries

And many more

SIMHEAT® for the automotive

Simulation is commonly used in the automotive industry to act on the final characteristics of parts (weight, ductility, hardness and resistance).

SIMHEAT® for aeronautics

To improve the performance and resistance of aeronautical parts, simulation makes it possible to predict metallurgical transformations of metals.

SIMHEAT® for the medical sector

Heat treatment processes can be simulated to optimize mechanical properties and ensure the safety of surgical implants during their application.

Case study NTN-SNR Roulements

Challenge

Validate the induction hardening process for the manufacturing of steel bearing rings.

Solution

By considering the characteristics of the current generator, the software provides a major asset to precisely describe the entire process, from the induction heating up to the final quenching stage.

Testimonial

« The solution is predictive because the parameters of the generator are used as they are as input data in the simulation for predicting the metallurgical properties of the part. »

Victor LEJAY, Process Development Engineer, NTN-SNR Roulements, France

Competitive advantages

Clear and objective reasons to distinguish ourselves.

Predictive solution

Simulate all your thermal cycles thanks to models for heating, quenching, annealing / tempering, carburizing, nitriding, and controlled cooling. SIMHEAT® predicts phase changes, hardness, residual stresses and distortions in your parts.

TTT & CCT diagram generator

TTC and CCT diagrams are generated for low alloy steel grades based on their chemical composition and initial grain size.

Heat Transfer Coefficients identification

Thanks to inverse engineering the SIMHEAT® automatic optimization module, identify the precise values of your process parameters.

SIMHEAT® software

Simulation software dedicated to heat treatment processes