Numerical analysis and experimental validation of high pressure gas quenching

Aided by the computational fluid dynamics package CFX-4 a transient flow model has been used to simulate the process of high pressure gas quenching of a large H13 die. The predicted temperature distributions, obtained under steady and transient flow conditions, together with experimental data have been compared. and a good agreement was obtained. This suggests that a steady state simulation can be effectively used in this type of study to achieve accurate simulated data with reduced computational time. This series of studies is seen as the precursor to the development of an overall simulation procedure for simultaneous distortion and heat transfer characterisation of the die leading to optimum heat treatment control. (C) 2002 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.