The need to develop light-weight and high strength materials for car frames which improve fuel efficiency and provide increased passenger safety during dynamic events such as automobile crashes has been the focus of the steel and automobile industries for the past 30 years. In recent years, the development of high strength steels such as multi-phase TRIP (Transformation-Induced Plasticity)-aided steels have shown great promise due to their excellent combination of high strength and ductility. The savings in automobile weight is provided by the inherent strength of TRIP steels which allows for the use of thinner sections. The TRIP effect is characterized by the phenomenon known as strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT) which enhances the work hardenability of such steels as the austenite phase transforms to the much harder martensite phase during plastic straining. This results in a resistance to local necking which subsequently enhances the strength, ductility, and formability of such steels. However, various factors exist which affect the mechanical behaviour of TRIP steels. This study will aim, through the use of finite element models, to investigate the role and influence of each of these factors on the TRIP effect in type 304 austenitic and multi-phase TRIP steels. These factors include the rate at which the martensitic transformation proceeds, the state of stress to which the material is subjected to, the interaction between the surrounding matrix and embedded retained austenite islands in multi-phase TRIP steels, and the volume fraction and morphology of the retained austenite islands. Investigation of these factors will provide further insight on each of their contributions to the TRIP effect in order to exploit the potential benefits offered by these steels.

No description available.

The requirement for lighter, safer and fuel efficient cars has created a major stir in the steel research society to develop advanced automotive steels. Since there is a trade off between strength and ductility, most of the conventional high strength steels do not address the strength-formability combination. With the realization of the TRIP phenomenon first in austenitic stainless steels, a new generation of advanced steels called TRIP steels were realised with an inexpensive and easier to process C-Mn-Si chemistry. TRIP or TRransformation Induced Plasticity is a phenomenon where the timely strain induced transformation of Retained Austenite (RA) to Martensite locally strengthens the steel at the point of plastic instability, causing failure by necking to be postponed and shifted elsewhere along the steel. This phenomenon repeated over and over again allows increased levels of strength and ductility, prior to fracture. / In current TRIP grades, the retained austenite particles present have to posses certain characteristics such as, optimum carbon concentration, optimum grain size and morphology etc. in order to account toward mechanical properties. Such limiting characteristics in turn minimize the processing window and make TRIP processing expensive and difficult to control. In this work, it is suggested that Tempered Martensite Assisted Steels (TMAS) obtained from TRIP steels via subcritical annealing of cold rolled TRIP steels may potentially replace TRIP steels. Relationship between the retained austenite volume fractions and mechanical properties was developed for TRIP steels. The effect of variation of retained austenite on tempered martensite volume fraction in TMAS, which in turn affect the mechanical properties was also investigated in depth. Results indicate that tempered martensite particles in TMAS do not have any limiting factors as in the case of RA in TRIP steels, in order to contribute toward enhancement of mechanical properties. Results also indicate that TMAS offers better strength levels compared to TRIP steels for same the level of formability. / Retained austenite volume fractions in TRIP steels were measured through XRD. Cold rolling of the samples was done in a laboratory scale rolling machine. The microstructures were analysed using conventional and color etching techniques. A new color etching technique for viewing all the four major phases in TRIP steel was developed in this work. The mechanical properties of both TRIP and TMAS were assessed by shear punch testing. And finally, the relationship between tempered martensite volume fraction and TMAS properties was developed and was compared to TRIP properties.

No description available.

Relaxation spectra were determined for a high chromium-high nickel vacuum cast stainless steel. The specimens were tested in the following three conditions: (1) as-received and solution heat treated, (2) nitrided 20 hours and solution heat treated, and (3) nitrided 40 hours and solution heat treated. No internal friction peaks were found in any of the experimental runs. There was no precipitation of nitrides during testing in the torsional pendulum. This was verified by an electron microscopic examination of the specimens after testing. Since there were no nitrides precipitated, no internal friction relaxation peaks were evident. / M.S.

by Cho, King-sum. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-110). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / by Cho, King-sum. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iii / Acknowledgment --- p.iv / Contents --- p.v / List of figures --- p.x / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Review of non-destructive techniques --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Liquid penetration technique --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Eddy current inspection --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Ultrasonic testing --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- Radiography --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Magnetic testing methods --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Barkhausen emission --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- The development of Barkhausen Emission --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- The advantages of using Barkhausen emission --- p.6 / Figures for chapter1 --- p.8 / Chapter 2 --- Iron-carbon System --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1 --- Iron-iron carbide phase diagram --- p.9 / Chapter 2.2 --- Invariant reactions in the Fe-Fe3C phase diagram --- p.11 / Chapter 2.3 --- Classification of carbon steels --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Effect of heat treatment on plain-carbon steels --- p.13 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Annealing and normalizing --- p.14 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Slow cooling --- p.15 / Chapter 2.5 --- Process of recovery and recrystallization --- p.15 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Recovery --- p.16 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Recrystallization --- p.16 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Grain growth --- p.17 / Figures for chapter2 --- p.18 / Chapter 3 --- Background Theory --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1 --- Ferromagnetism --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Localized moment theory --- p.24 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Band theory --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Hysteresis loop --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2 --- Domain theory --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Magnetic domain --- p.26 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Structure of domain wall --- p.27 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Domain wall motion --- p.29 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Magnetostatic energy --- p.30 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- Magnetization process --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3 --- Effect of applied stress --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Stress --- p.33 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Magnetostriction --- p.34 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Effect of stress on magnetization --- p.34 / Figures for chapter 3 --- p.37 / Chapter 4 --- Instrumentation --- p.39 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.39 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experimental setup for Barkhausen emission --- p.39 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Magnetizing unit --- p.40 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Signal detection unit --- p.41 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Signal processing unit --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3 --- The typical BE profile --- p.42 / Chapter 4.4 --- Specimen treatment --- p.43 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Optical microscope --- p.43 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Vickers´ة hardness tester --- p.44 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Thermal resistance furnace --- p.45 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Instron loading machine --- p.45 / Figures for chapter4 --- p.47 / Chapter 5 --- Experiments and Results: Evaluation of Carbon Content in Steel --- p.52 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.52 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experiments and results --- p.52 / Chapter 5.3 --- Discussions --- p.53 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- The magnetization process --- p.53 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- The BE profiles 、 --- p.54 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Hardness --- p.57 / Chapter 5.4 --- Conclusions --- p.57 / Figures for chapter5 --- p.58 / Chapter 6 --- Experiments and Results: The Effects of annealing on Barkhausen Emission in Mild Steel Bars --- p.64 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.64 / Chapter 6.2 --- Experiments --- p.64 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.64 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- The mechanical properties --- p.65 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Grain size --- p.65 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- BE profiles --- p.66 / Chapter 6.4 --- Conclusions --- p.67 / Figures for chapter6 --- p.68 / Chapter 7 --- Experiments and Results: The Effects of Dynamic and Residual Stresses on Barkhausen Emission in Annealed Mild Steel Bars --- p.76 / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.76 / Chapter 7.2 --- Experiments --- p.76 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Measurement of dynamic loading (with samples of Set A) --- p.77 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Measurement of residual stress (with samples of Set B) --- p.77 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Measurement of continuous tensile stress (with samples of Set C) --- p.77 / Chapter 7.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.78 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Peak ratio of the BE profile --- p.78 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- The initial peak value under the effects of increasing tensile stress --- p.81 / Chapter 7.4 --- Conclusions --- p.82 / Figures for chapter7 --- p.83 / Chapter 8 --- Experiments and Results: The Recovery of Strained Steel Bars by Annealing --- p.94 / Chapter 8.1 --- Introduction --- p.94 / Chapter 8.2 --- Experiments --- p.94 / Chapter 8.2.1 --- Measurement of annealed sample (Set D) --- p.95 / Chapter 8.2.2 --- Results of the Set E samples --- p.95 / Chapter 8.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.95 / Chapter 8.3.1 --- Hardness --- p.96 / Chapter 8.3.2 --- Peak ratio of the BE profile --- p.97 / Chapter 8.3.3 --- BE profile for the samples of Set E --- p.98 / Chapter 8.4 --- Conclusions --- p.99 / Figures for chapter8 --- p.100 / Chapter 9 --- Conclusions and Suggestions for Further Studies --- p.104 / Bibliography --- p.108

by Cheng Kai. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Cheng Kai. / Acknowledgments --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of content --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter One --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Barkhausen emission --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Methods of measurements --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Magnetization of a sample --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Signal detection --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Signal processing --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Instrumentation --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Instron loading machine --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Optical microscopy --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Vicker's hardness tester --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Ceramic furnace --- p.8 / References --- p.9 / Chapter Chapter Two --- Domain Theory / Chapter 2.1 --- The postulate of domain --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2 --- Domain energy --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3 --- The magnetization process --- p.20 / Chapter 2.4 --- Effect of applied stress --- p.22 / Chapter 2.5 --- Hindrances to wall motion by inclusions --- p.23 / References --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter Three --- Steels / Chapter 3.1 --- The making of steel --- p.28 / Chapter 3.2 --- The iron-iron carbide phase diagram --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3 --- Heat treatment of plain-carbon steels --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Slow cooling of plain-carbon steels --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Rapid cooling of plain-carbon steels --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Annealing --- p.31 / References --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter Four --- Effects of carbon on Barkhausen emission in plain carbon steel / Chapter 4.1 --- introduction --- p.35 / Chapter 4.2 --- Experiments --- p.36 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Samples --- p.36 / Chapter 4.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.37 / Chapter 4.4 --- Conclusions --- p.39 / References --- p.40 / Chapter Chapter Five --- Magnetization process in a steel plate/bar subjected to an increasing tensile load / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.45 / Chapter 5.2 --- Experiments --- p.47 / Chapter 5.3 --- Results and discussions for the zinc-coated steel plate --- p.47 / Chapter 5.4 --- Results and discussions for mild steel --- p.50 / Chapter 5.5 --- A comparison between steel plate and steel bar --- p.52 / Chapter 5.6 --- Conclusions --- p.53 / References --- p.54 / Chapter Chapter Six --- Evaluation of residual stress in bent steel bars subjected to different heat treatment by Barkhausen emission / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.60 / Chapter 6.2 --- Experiments --- p.60 / Chapter 6.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.61 / Chapter 6.4 --- Conclusions --- p.64 / References --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter Seven --- Effects of heat treatment on electrolytic zinc-coated steel plates by Barkhausen emission / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.72 / Chapter 7.2 --- Experiments --- p.72 / Chapter 7.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.73 / Chapter 7.4 --- Conclusions --- p.75 / References --- p.76 / Chapter Chapter Eight --- Effects of demagnetizing and stray fields on Barkhausen emission / Chapter 8.1 --- Introduction --- p.80 / Chapter 8.2 --- Experiments --- p.80 / Chapter 8.3 --- Results and discussions --- p.81 / Chapter 8.4 --- Conclusions --- p.85 / References --- p.85 / Chapter Chapter Nine --- Conclusions and suggestions for further studies --- p.90

No description available.

Low carbon bainitic steels microalloyed with Nb, Ti and V are widely used for the pipeline, construction and automobile industries because of their excellent combination of strength, toughness and weldability. Boron as another major alloying element has been also frequently used in this type of steels since the 1970s. The purpose of adding boron is to improve the hardenability of the steel by promoting bainite formation. / It has been realized that Boron can only be effective as a strengthening element when it is prevented from forming BN and/or Fe23(C, B) 6 precipitates. Therefore, Boron is always added together with other alloying elements which are stronger Nitride or Carbide formers, such as Ti and Nb. However, the formation of complex bainitic structures and the interaction with precipitates at industrial coiling temperature are not adequately understood. / In this study, the effect of boron on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a low carbon Nb-B steel was studied by a hot compression test (50% reduction at 850°C) followed by quenching samples into a salt bath. The microstructures of the tested samples were examined through optical microscopy and SEM; and the mechanical properties of these samples were investigated by micro-hardness and shear punch tests. / The results indicate that during thermo-mechanical controlled rolling (TCR), the final properties of the products not only depend on the applied deformation but also depend on the coiling temperature where phase transformation takes place. According to the investigation, two strengthening mechanisms are responsible for the strength of the steel at the coiling temperature: phase transformation and precipitation. Under optical microscopy, the microstructures of all specimens appear to be bainite in a temperature range from 350°C to 600°C without distinct differences. However, the SEM micrographs revealed that the microstructures at 550°C are very different from the microstructures transformed at the other holding temperatures. / Two strength peaks were observed at 350°C and 550°C in the temperature range studied. It is believed that the NbC precipitates are the main contributor to the peak strength observed at 550°C because the kinetics of NbC is quite rapid at this temperature. The strength peak at 350°C is mainly due to the harder bainitic phase, which formed at relatively lower temperature.

No description available.