Austenite decomposition during press hardening of a boron steel—Computer simulation and test

In this work a model to predict the austenite decomposition into ferrite, pearlite, bainite and martensite during arbitrary cooling paths for thin sheet boron steel is used. The model is based on Kirkaldy’s rate equations. The basic rate equations has been modified to account for the austenite stabilization effect from the added boron. The model is implemented as part of a material subroutine in the Finite Element Program LS-DYNA 970. Both the obtained simulated volume fractions microconstituents and hardness profiles shows promising agreement to the corresponding experimental observations.