Numerical Analysis for Microstructure Control in Hot Forming Process

The importance of structural metals for industrial applications is based on their superior combination of mechanical properties - strength, elongation, toughness and corrosion resistance – achieved at the end of forming processes. A numerical analysis for the prediction of microstructure is strongly required for the optimization of hot forming process parameters, because the microstructure of structural metals, which has the significant effects on mechanical properties, is strongly dependent to forming process conditions as well as the chemical composition. The off-line and on-line analyses of microstructure evolution are explained briefly, and the results of its application to hot strip rolling are presented. The linkage of microstructure analysis to kinetic property prediction of product is discussed, and finally, the remaining research topic, such as enlarging the analytical scheme to various alloys, is presented.