Optimization of Quench History for Superior Mechanical Properties

Cooling of steels after the high temperature forming process influences the metallurgical structure and the mechanical properties of the part. The rate of heat removal from a heated component by a quenchant depends on the ability of the liquid medium to wet and spread on its surface. An optimal quenching process is proposed with the Pontryagin Maximum Principle of optimal control theory which can attain superior mechanical properties and control the maximum residual stresses in this paper.