The objective of this research was to develop and verify a mathematical model and the necessary material database that allow predicting the physical and material property changes that occur in aluminum casting alloys in response to precipitation-hardening heat treatment. The model accounts for all three steps of the typical precipitation hardening heat treatment; i.e., the solutionizing, quenching, and aging steps; and it allows predicting the local hardness and tensile strength, and the local residual stresses, distortion and dimensional changes that develop in the cast component during each step of the heat treatment process. The model uses commercially available finite element software and an extensive database that was developed specifically for the aluminum alloy under consideration – namely A356.2 casting alloy. The database includes the mechanical, physical, and thermal properties of the alloy all as functions of temperature. The model predictions were compared to measurements made on commercial cast components that were heat treated according to standard heat treatment protocols and the model predictions were found to be in good agreement with the measurements.

Creator

• Wu, Chang Kai

Contributors

• Makhlouf, Makhlouf M.

Degree

• PhD

Unit

• Materials Science & Engineering

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Language

• English

Identifier

• etd-041512-131253

Keyword

• Finite Element Analysis
• Modeling
• Aging
• Quench Factor Analysis

Advisor

• Makhlouf, Makhlouf M.

Defense date

• 2012-04-15

Year

• 2012

Date created

• 2012-04-15

Resource type

• Dissertation

Rights statement

• In Copyright