Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
European Mechanical Science, cilt.6, sa.2, ss.129-137, 2022 (Hakemli Dergi)
In manufacturing industry, heat treatment is a fundamental requirement for improving the material quality of readily
manufactured products. Induction heating technology is repeatable and easily controlled by the advantage of having an electronic
control unit. Nowadays, numerical methods have gained so much importance that it becomes as a reference for the induction
heating industry. Experimental methods are costly and time demanding procedures. However, making use of finite element method
(FEA) software, induction heating simulations of a steel gear can be performed relatively cost effective and in a short time. In this
paper, induction heating simulation of an AISI 4340 steel gear using FEA software is performed. The effect of variation of inductor
frequency and air gap distance on the hardening depth of the gear surface is investigated. The temperature profile of the workpiece
is obtained. From the temperature distribution on the steel gear workpiece, the regions of the gear at which the austenitizing
temperature (Ac3) - responsible for martensite phase formation- are observed. From the numerical results, hardening profile and
hardening depth of the gear is interpreted. During the induction and heating process, the temperature distribution on the AISI 4340
steel gear was determined, depending on the frequency change (medium frequency: 8 – 12 kHz) and the air gap variations (2 mm –
28 mm), using constant time (0.5 seconds), and constant coil power (220 kW). It is interpreted that as the coil frequency rise from
8 kHz to 12 kHz the temperature rises in the root region of the steel gear. This, consequently, leads to austenitizing temperature
(800 o
C) in deeper regions of the workpiece. On fixed time, constant power, and constant frequency (10 kHz), depending on the
decrease in magnetic field effect, increasing the air gap from 2 - 28 mm led to reduced temperature in the root area (<800 o
C).