By using the finite element method (FEM), we comprehensively analyzed the fields of temperature, organization, and stress in 35CrMo train axles during the quenching process is conducted, and experimentally studied the formation and evolution of inner stresses in axles during the quenching process. The results show that in the quenching process, stresses on the axle surface change from tensile to compressive gradually, while stresses in the axle core change from compressive to tensile gradually. Heat stresses and the amount of martensitic transformation are all increased with the increase of cooling rate. As a result, the maximum instantaneous stresses in the axle are increased greatly when the cooling rate is increased with brine quenching. Large instantaneous tensile stress in the axle core with brine quenching is very likely to cause quench cracking and should be avoided.

Read More.