Director, Sente Software Ltd., U.K.

Speech Title: Materials Properties for Processing Simulation – The Current Status
Abstract: Materials processing is a complex subject whereas many phenomena, such as heat transfer, phase transformations and material deformation, have to be dealt with in a closely coupled fashion. Although processing simulation has become an integral part of alloy processing design and component manufacturing, no simulation tool can accomplish such tasks truly on its own at present. In essence, processing simulation consists of two types of modelling. One is the so-called materials modelling, i.e. modelling of composition-processing-microstructure-property relationships; the other is the CAE type simulation based on finite-element or finite-difference (FE/FD) analysis and alike. For historical reasons, development of these two types of modelling techniques falls into two rather separate research areas, resulting in two types of computer software, each performing fairly well in its own field but no links exist between them. Nowadays, with the advance of computing power and the demand for higher accuracy in simulation results, the integration of materials modelling into processing simulation has become not only feasible but also necessary. This talk reviews the development of material models based on thermodynamics, phase transformation kinetics, and microstructure-property relationships, by which many of the material properties required in processing simulation can be calculated. The property data calculated from such models can now be easily transferred to many CAE simulation tools. Case studies are presented on the simulation of casting, forming, welding and heat treatments of some industrial alloys.