Ductile iron optimization approach for mechanically and thermally loaded components

The mechanical and thermal properties of ferritic–pearlitic ductile irons vary widely according to their silicon and pearlite contents. Thus, different combinations of silicon and pearlite affect components’ lifetime under mechanical and thermal stress. An excellent example of the usage of such irons is combustion engine cylinder heads. They experience transient thermal loading (heating and cooling) during starting and stopping in addition to mechanical loading (combustion) during engine operation. An optimization approach and calculation models for the estimation of the optimal ductile iron composition are presented in this study. The approach allows selection of the most suitable base composition for subsequent analyses, such as casting simulation and final accurate finite element modelling and fatigue calculations.