Generalized transient temperature behavior in induction heated workpieces

Electromagnetic–thermal coupled numerical analysis of induction heating is time intensive if three-dimensional models are used. In this study, by processing the results of finite element computations, a dimensional analysis is carried out to predict the transient temperature rise time at the surface of an induction heated workpiece. A unique set of curves is found that describes the transient dimensionless temperature at a point on the surface as a function of the electromagnetic skin depth alone. The effectiveness of the approach is verified by numerical calculations and comparing the dimensionless temperature curves for different heating cases and materials. Effect of temperature dependent thermal properties is also investigated. The consistency of numerical results is also verified by comparison with experiments.