The dynamic recrystallization behavior of microalloyed forged steel was investigated with a compression test in the temperature range of 1 223-1 473 K and a strain rate of 0. 01-5 s^-1. Activation energy was calculated to be 305.9 kJ/mol by regression analysis. Modeling equations were developed to represent the dynamic recrystallization volume fraction and grain size. Parameters of the modeling equations were determined as a function of the Zener-Hollomon parameter. The developed modeling equation will be combined with finite element modeling to predict microstructural change during the hot forging processing.
Based on the characteristics of 3D bulk forming process, the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) formulation-based FEM is studied, and a prediction-correction ALE-based FEM is proposed which integrates the advantages of precisely predicting the boundary configuration of the deformed material, and of efficiently avoiding hexahedron remeshing processes. The key idea of the prediction-correction ALE FEM is elaborated in detail. Accordingly, the strategy of mesh quality control, one of the key enabling techniques for the 3D bulk forming process numerical simulation by the prediction-correction ALE FEM is carefully investigated, and the algorithm for hexahedral element refinement is formulated based on the mesh distortion energy.