About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2027 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
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| Symposium
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Physical Thermo-Mechanical Simulation: Laboratory Advances and In-Situ Diffraction Methods
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| Presentation Title |
Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Gleeble-Simulated Heat-Affected Zones in Rail Steel |
| Author(s) |
Emmanoelle Cintra da Cunha Araujo, Marcelly Cristiny Nunes de Carvalho, Joao Marcos da Silva Nunes, Joao Carlos Ferreira, Jhonatan Peres de Sousa, Maria Veronica Goncalves Rodrigues, Cristie Luis Kugelmeier, Cristhian Ricardo Loayza Loayza, Alejandro Rojas Nuñez, Samuel Filgueiras Rodrigues |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Samuel Filgueiras Rodrigues |
| Abstract Scope |
This research investigates the influence of simulated flash butt welding thermal cycles on the microstructure and mechanical properties of a premium rail steel. Gleeble dilatometry tests were performed by austenitizing specimens at 1100 °C, followed by controlled cooling rates of 1–8 °C/s. Fully pearlitic microstructures formed at 1–2 °C/s, bainite appeared at 3 °C/s, and higher cooling rates promoted bainite and martensite formation. Based on these results, heat-affected zone (HAZ) simulations were conducted with peak temperatures of 1200, 1060, 900, and 750 °C using cooling rates below 2.5 °C/s. Martensite was detected after the 1200 °C cycle despite the slow cooling, indicating increased hardenability caused by coarse prior austenite grains. The 1060 °C condition showed the highest tensile strength (864 MPa) and hardness (418 HV). These findings provide insights for optimizing flash butt welding parameters and controlling HAZ microstructures in premium rail steels. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Iron and Steel, Process Technology, Characterization |