Numerical and experimental analysis of 3D spot induction hardening of AISI 1045 steel

In order to analyze and predict the material property of AISI 1045 steel during spot induction hardening (SIH), a 3D electro-magnetic model coupled temperature fields with time-dependent boundary conditions was developed using finite element simulation software ANSYS. A magnetizer mounted at single-turn copper coil inductor, the calculation of the material hardness and the prediction of phase transformation were taken into account in this model via defined material laws. The phenomenology model in this work presented a novel and simplified way to predict the temperature, the hardness and phase transformation in SIH process. In situ temperature and current measurement as well as hardness and microstructure analyses were carried out to verify this model.