Finite element modelling and experimental validation of microstructural changes and hardness variation during gas metal arc welding of AISI 441 ferritic stainless steel

Grain growth and hardness variation occurring in high-temperature heat affected zone (HAZ) during the welding processes are two thermal dependant aspects of great interest for both academic industrial research activities. This paper presents an innovative finite element (FE) model capable to describe grain decrease that occur gas metal arc (GMAW) commercial AISI 441 steel. The FE software SFTC DEFORM-3D™ was used simulate GMAW process, a user subroutine developed including physical based Hall–Petch (H-P) equation predict size change. validated by comparison with experimental results showing its reliability predicting important characteristics temperature dependant. study provides accurate numerical (i.e. subroutine, source fitting, geometry) able successfully phenomena coarsening grains hardening decrease) HAZ process ferritic stainless