Characterization and modeling of quenching-induced residual stresses in the nickel-based superalloy IN718

The residual stress fields in pieces of quenched IN718 superalloy have been characterized by neutron diffraction. The samples were in the form of cylindrical rods of length sufficient to ensure that steady-state conditions prevail at the midsection. Quenching the samples in air, water, and oil generated various residual stress fields. The interfacial heat-transfer coefficients were estimated using an inverse-modeling technique. The findings were rationalized with an elastic-plastic finite-element model that included temperature-dependent properties. The hoop and axial stresses are the most significant components of the stress field and arise from the plastic deformation occurring at the periphery of the cylindrical sections, the extent of which depends strongly upon the severity of the quench. The model is used to examine the residual stress fields to be expected in a turbine-disc forging of idealized geometry.