Microstructural modeling in nickel superalloys

Project aim

The main project aim is to develop a coupled microstructure evolution model for IN718 that can be embedded within commercial software FE packages.

Project background

Nickel Alloys are used in the aerospace sector for their ability to withstand high stresses at elevated temperatures (e.g. in gas turbine engines). The final properties of the forged part significantly depend on the obtained material microstructure. Some types of microstructures can be obtained by heat treatments while the development of others has to be taken care of through the total chain of manufacturing operations. Through-process FE modelling of the microstructural evolution can play a vital role in the optimisation of such manufacturing technologies.

Moreover, the main data used in the material models are normally obtained from uniaxial lab tests conducted under constant temperature and strain rate for small strains (<=0.7). Extrapolation of the experimental data, as well as interpolation of it for complex loading histories, remains an open question. The embedment of microstructure evolution prediction into a constitutive model gives an opportunity to resolve this problem.