Microstructure Evolution of As-Cast Steels During Hot Deformation

The thermomechanical processing of large steel ingots involves significant microstructural changes that strongly depend on the initial as-cast structure. However, the kinetics of grain growth and the evolution of thermophysical properties in cast steels under hot deformation remain insufficiently documented, particularly under conditions representative of industrial forging.

This Master’s project focuses on the experimental characterization of grain growth kinetics and the determination of thermophysical property evolution in as-cast steels as a function of deformation and temperature. Controlled thermomechanical tests will be performed using the Gleeble 3800 MaxStrain system to simulate industrial forging cycles, including variations in strain, strain rate, and thermal history. Microstructural analysis using optical and electron microscopy will be conducted to quantify grain size evolution and assess the influence of deformation and temperature on microstructural stability.

The experimental results will be used to establish quantitative relationships between processing conditions, grain growth behavior, and thermophysical properties of the investigated steels. These data will directly support the development of improved material databases and provide essential input for higher-level constitutive and process modeling efforts within the broader research program.