Numerical Simulation of Residual Stress in an Al-Cu Alloy Block During Quenching and Aging

In this study, residual stresses after different quenching and aging processes of Al-Cu forged blocks were investigated by numerical simulation method and experimental measurements. An iterative zone-based heat transfer calculation was coupled with the hyperbolic sine-type constitutive model to simulate the residual stress during quenching process. The simulation results were compared with experiment data using both x-ray diffraction and crack compliance methods. The simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental measurements with around 9-13% deviation at the largest. Residual stress reduction can be achieved by decreasing the cooling rate during quenching. Quenching in water with different temperatures of 60, 80, and 100 °C resulted in the maximum compressive residual stress reduction of approximately 28.2, 75.7, and 88.9%, respectively, in Al-Cu alloy samples. When quenched in 10, 20, and 30% PAG solution, the reduction of maximum compressive residual stress in Al-Cu alloy samples was approximately 35.1, 47.8, and 53.2%, respectively. In addition, in order to study the amount of residual stress relief after aging treatments, aging treatments at 140 and 170 °C for different times were also studied. Aging treatment used to obtain the peak-aged (T6) and overaged (T7) condition produces only about 22.5 to 34.7% reduction in residual stresses.