Surface integrity prediction in finish turning of 15-5PH stainless steel

Modeling surface microstructural changes is a key issue when considering the manufacture of critical metallic parts. During machining, extreme temperature conditions appear in the cutting zone (from 700 to 1000 °C with a heating and cooling rate around 106 °C.s−1). Consequently, a metallurgical model has been calibrated for 15-5PH steel using experimental dilatometry results (with heating rates varying from 6 °C.s−1 to 11000 °C.s−1). This metallurgical model has been implemented in a numerical model for the prediction of surface integrity after turning. It has been shown that the thermal kinetic doesn’t allow a significant austenite formation even if the maximal reached temperature is clearly higher than the austenization start temperature. The good adequacy between calculated and measured residual stress profiles confirms that austenization doesn’t occur.