Heat treatment of tool steels means several phase transformations. Every phase transformation must be described by start amount, end amount, and kinetics (change of phases depending on temperature and time). Start and end amount can be calculated with different thermodynamic software. For example, Thermocalc is well validated for tool steels. All of the aforementioned data are used as input data for a finite-element-method (FEM) model. In any case the first step of simulation models is validation, which means the comparison of experiments and mathematical simulation. The better the input data and the better the model formulation, the better are the results and the fewer loops have to be made for an appropriate model (reference model). This reference model is then used for process optimization. All these steps of model development are illustrated in the figure.
For more information, click on the link below (subscription required). Then scroll to Figure 15. R Schneider; R. Mesquita; W Schützenhöfer, Distortion in Tool Steels, ASM International, 2014 https://doi.org/10.31399/asm.hb.v04d.a0005980
