Enhancing mechanical properties and avoiding cracks by simulation of quenching connecting rods

If the service load onto a part is heavy, e.g. for the connecting rods of high-power diesel engine, high mechanical properties are critically required. When quenched in oil, it cannot meet the requirements. While quenching it in aqueous polymer quenchant or water, the mechanical properties could be higher than that required but cracking would occasionally happen. In order to obtain the expected mechanical properties and avoid cracking by quenching and tempering, the heat transfer coefficients of quenchants were measured and calculated, and the quenching process of connecting rods was simulated by using finite element method so that its processing parameters were determined. The results show that the mechanical properties of the treated rods have been enhanced and cracks were avoided. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.