Influence of open-die forging process parameters on microstructures evolution and mechanical properties of high strength steels used for energy and transportation industries

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The vast majority of critical parts used in transportation, energy, and mining industries are made from high strength materials, particularly, High Strength Steels or Ultra High Strength Steels. In addition to high level of mechanical strength, these parts should possess high toughness, resilience, and resistance to fatigue in order to withstand the complex loadings applied during service. Such superior properties are attained by a judicious selection of their chemical composition and processing parameters known as thermomechanical processing. However, the interactions between alloying elements and process parameters along with multiple property requirements become very complex and often result in the presence of microscopic heterogeneities leading to increased rates of non-compliant products, longer production times and higher production costs. Over the last decade, the continued increase in the cost of raw materials, fuel cost, new environmental legislations, and fierce competition have put a significant pressure on transportation and energy industries in North America, to reduce cost by optimizing the existing materials and processes, minimize waste, and produce new and higher performance alloys. Such objectives can only be achieved if the fundamental mechanisms governing the interactions between alloying elements, process parameters and final properties are understood and methodologies developed to model and predict their impact.