Computed assisted design of models for the thermomechanical processing of steels by means of a new modelling tool

A new modelling workbench has been developed for the computation of the microstructural evolution of steels in the course of their thermomechanical processing. Within this graphical user interface, the designer can easilyconstruct a new model by interlinking different modules available in reference libraries, whatever their original informatic framework. This universal platform organises the data flow through the modules integrated in the logical chart. On the basis of a CRM internal library of modules written in FORTRAN, a data block diagram is proposed to compute the through-thickness temperature profile of a steel hot band during its process in the finishing mill and the corresponding thickness evolution of the oxide scale according to different cooling schemes. For this simulation, a conditional loop is used for the data flow through an interstand cooling module, a module for the computation of the deformation and frictional heat released in the roll gap, and a module for the heat conduction within the roll bite. In a second simulation example, the impact of a heterogeneous temperature pattern at the start of coiling on the final mechanical properties is evaluated with the help of metallurgical models of precipitation of microalloying elements and phase softening for multiphase steels coupled to a thermal model of coil cooling.