Prediction of Distortion of Automotive Pinion Gears during Quenching Using CFD and FEA

Abstract

Abstract FLUENT was used to simulate the quenchant flow through a quench rack of automotive pinions. Utilizing a typical heat treat rack arrangement, two parts in an actual rack of heat treated pinions were then evaluated by finite element simulations using the finite element software, DANTE®, using the CFD results as boundary conditions for the finite element analysis. Part shape change, internal stress, and phase transformation histories were calculated for this carburized pinion gear made of AISI 8620.