Finite Element Modeling and Experimental Verification of Nitriding Process in S30C Steel

A mathematical model has been developed to simulate the nitriding process of plain carbon steel, considering the simultaneous diffusion of nitrogen in different iron-nitrogen (Fe-N) phases and the precipitation dynamics of γ' and ε iron-nitride. The model can predict the distribution of nitrogen concentration, volume fraction of Fe-N phases and hardness. Furthermore, a finite element method (FEM) post-process technology is presented to avoid the limit of FEM mesh improvement and time-saving. The uniform-sum-division algorithm is adopted as local refinement algorithm (LRA) of meshes. The modi...