Abstract: A method for operating an annealing furnace to anneal a metal strip provides that, initially, at least one target material property (MPTarget) is specified for a point or a section of the metal strip after passing through the annealing furnace. In addition, information (E) on the metal strip is provided before or in the annealing furnace. A calculation of a target temperature distribution (TTarget) and/or a target speed (VTarget) of the metal strip in the annealing furnace is then carried out with the assistance of a computer-aided model as a function of the target material properties and the specified information. The target temperature distribution and/or target speed calculated in this manner is/are subsequently set in the annealing furnace in order to transfer the material property of the metal strip behind the annealing furnace to the desired target material property MPTarget.

Abstract: A temperature calculation method includes: dividing a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a steel plate to be hot-rolled into a plurality of rectangular elements; and calculating a temperature of each of the rectangular elements using a finite difference method. A first region 31 that includes an edge part of the cross section is divided such that a plurality of the rectangular elements are lined up in a plate-thickness direction and such that a plurality of the rectangular elements are lined up in a plate-width direction. A second region 32 that includes a center of the cross section and is wider than the first region 31 is divided such that a plurality of the rectangular elements are lined up in the plate-thickness direction but the second region 32 is not divided in the plate-width direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for changing the temperature of a metal strip including means for changing the temperature of the metal strip by heating or cooling. By using means for conveying the metal strip, the metal strip is moved in the strip direction relative to the means for changing the temperature of the metal strip. The object of providing a device for changing the temperature of metal strips, which allows improved process control and improved flatness of the treated metal strip, is achieved according to the invention by a device in that means for changing the temperature of the metal strip include a plurality of individual temperature-control means which each heat or cool the metal strip only in some regions, and at least the position of a plurality of the temperature-control means can be individually changed translationally and/or rotationally relative to the metal strip.

Abstract: A carburization device includes a heating furnace which heats a material, a transfer mechanism, an alcohol vapor generator, an alcohol vapor spraying portion, a quenching tank, and an exhaust heat intake tube. The transfer mechanism moves a plurality of materials. The alcohol vapor generator uses part of heat generated by the heating furnace as a heat source. As the alcohol vapor spraying portion repeats a vapor spraying step and a diffusion step a plurality of times in the heating furnace. In the vapor spraying step, by spraying alcohol vapor on the material which moves inside the heating furnace, carbon in the alcohol is adsorbed to the material. In the diffusion step, an interval for diffusing the carbon adsorbed to the material is taken.

Abstract: A method of forming a part includes: inserting a blank into a die, the die comprising a mold mounted above a sealing counterpart; clamping the blank between the mold and the sealing counterpart; applying first pressure on the blank from the sealing counterpart so the blank is pressed upward to form a shaped part corresponding to the mold; applying a vacuum to the shaped part to hold it against the mold also after separating the mold and the sealing counterpart, the vacuum applied through at least one opening in the mold located in a corner of the mold that the blank does not reach when the first pressure is applied; and discontinuing the vacuum to allow the shaped part to be released from the mold.

Abstract: A method for forming a sheet made of an aluminium alloy into a component of complex shape, particularly a motor-vehicle component, such as an outer panel or an inner frame of a bonnet or a door of a motor-vehicle, provides for blow-forming of the sheet, with the aid of pressurized gas, within a mould. The alloy constituting the sheet does not have superplasticity features and the sheet and/or the mould are heated to a temperature in the order of 400°-450° C. for 5XXX series alloys and 450°-500° C. and over for 6XXX and 7XXX series alloys. The maximum pressure reached by the forming gas is in the order of 20-30 bars and the time required for forming the sheet is between 40 and 150 seconds and therefore is consistent with production rates in the automotive field.

Abstract: Ni—Fe, Ni—Co, and Ni—Cu-based bulk metallic glass forming alloys are provided. The alloys have critical rod diameters of at least 1 mm and in some instances at least 11 mm. The alloys have composition according to Ni(100-a-b-c-d-e)XaCrbNbcPdBe, wherein X is at least one of Fe, Co, and Cu, the atomic percent X (Fe and/or Co and/or Cu) ranges from 0.5 to 30, the atomic percent of Cr ranges from 2 to 15, the atomic percent of Nb ranges from 1 to 5, the atomic percent of P ranges from 14 to 19, the atomic percent of B ranges from 1 to 5, and the balance is Ni.

Abstract: A multi-forming device is disclosed.

Abstract: An inclination detection device 11 for an aircraft includes a gravity sensor 13 that detects an inclination angle in a pitch direction at a parking time of a fuselage 1, an alarm device 16, and a control unit 17 that causes the device 16 to issue an alarm when the inclination angle detected by the sensor 13 approaches allowable limit inclination angles F4 and R4 in a forward inclination direction and a backward inclination direction of the fuselage 1. The control unit 17 has gravity center management information peculiar to the fuselage 1 inputted therein by a USB memory 20 or the like, and corrects a movable range in the forward and—backward inclination directions until the inclination angle reaches the angles F4 and R4 based on the gravity center management inclination information, before a loading and unloading operation of cargo into and from the fuselage 1.

Abstract: An integrated adjustable die fixture to be used to hold and stabilize large parts from dimensional fluctuation during the heat treating quenching process. The die fixture provides for a pair of interlocking dies each with a plurality of radially positioned interchangeable and configurable part engagement blades to conform and hold the part during quenching. A die fixture support and transport lifting frame selectively engages integrated die fixture and part for transport, positioning and select access to quenching furnace.

Abstract: The present invention published a large walled field conditions P92 long pipeline local heat treatment processes. Firstly, according to the specific conditions for the on-site grade heat-resistant steel (P92 pipe), combining of the finite element method and test, the Heated Band (HB) width and Gradient Control Band (GCB) was calculated. The pipe was then locally heated using the flexible ceramic resistive heater. When the temperature reaches 80-100° C., the pipe was heated to constant temperature at 80-100° C. for 2 h. The pipe was heated to 300° C. at the rate of 150° C./h. When the temperature reaches 300° C., rising the temperature to 765° C. at the rate of 80° C./h. Holding time is calculated by the wall thickness (5 min/mm, no less than 4 h). Lowering the temperature to 300° C. at the rate of 100° C./h and then natural cooling to room temperature, finally removing the heating device. Finally, the local heat treatment process can be obtained.

Abstract: In a rolling process for reverse thermomechanically rolling an aluminum plate involving a plurality of rolling passes, identifying data are determined for thermally guiding the rolling process. Then a value of a state variable, from which a temperature of the aluminum plate can be deduced, is continuously measured and a pass schedule is determined for the rolling process on the basis of the value of the measured state variable and of the identifying data. The pass schedule provides for a rolling pause between at least two successive rolling passes, during which rolling of the aluminum plate is interrupted for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A method thermally treats hot rails to obtain a desired microstructure having enhanced mechanical properties. The method includes an active cooling phase where the rail is fast cooled from an austenite temperature and subsequently soft cooled, to maintain a target transformation temperature between defined values. The cooling treatment is performed by a plurality of cooling modules. Each of the cooling modules has a plurality of devices spraying a cooling medium onto the rail. The method is characterized in that during the active cooling phase, each cooling device is driven to control the cooling rate of the rail such that the amount of transformed austenite within the rail is not lower than 50% on the rail surface and not lower than 20% at a rail head core.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention provides a process for thermoplastic forming of a metallic glass. For example, in one embodiment, the invention provides a process for thermoplastic forming of a metallic glass ribbons having a thickness of between about 50 to about 200 microns. Related articles of manufacture and processes for customizing articles in accordance with the process as described herein are also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of a hot-rolled steel sheet which enables manufacturing of a hot-rolled steel sheet having excellent surface properties and a fine structure. The manufacturing method of a hot-rolled steel sheet uses a heating device, descaling device, row of finishing mills, cooling device disposed in the row of finishing mills, and rapid cooling device disposed immediately after the row of finishing mills, and the operations of the heating device, cooling device and rapid cooling device are controlled, thereby controlling a temperature T1 of the material to be rolled on an entry side of the row of finishing mills, a temperature T2 of the material to be rolled on an entry side of a final stand in the row of finishing mills, and a temperature T3 of the material to be rolled on an exit side of the rapid cooling device.

Abstract: In a cooling a galvanized steel sheet (W), change in emissivity of a surface of the galvanized steel sheet (W) is measured in a temperature range lower than the boiling point of zinc but not lower than the ferrite transformation temperature, using an emissivity sensor (4) with an observation wavelength of 1.4 ?m or longer, and pressing and quenching in a pressing and quenching apparatus (2) is started after completion of an alloying reaction has been detected based on the change in emissivity. The emissivity sensor (4) preferably has an InGaAs element or a thermopile as a measuring element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steel plate quality assurance system and facilities thereof, wherein the steel plate quality assurance system measures, with a steel plate manufacturing line including a finishing mill of a steel plate manufacturing line, and accelerated cooling equipment disposed on the downstream side of the finishing mill in the advancing direction of the steel plate manufacturing line, temperature of at least the whole area of the upper surface of a steel plate, or the whole area of the lower surface of a steel plate to perform quality assurance, and includes temperature measurement means; temperature analysis means; and mechanical property determining means.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of forming high-aspect-ratio metallic glass articles that are substantially free of defects and cosmetic flaws by means of rapid capacitive discharge forming. Metallic glass alloys that are stable against crystallization for at least 100 ms at temperatures where the viscosity is in the range of 100 to 104 Pa-s are considered as suitable for forming such high-aspect-ratio articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a hardened steel component with a coating composed of zinc or a zinc alloy; a blank is stamped out of a sheet coated with the zinc or zinc alloy, the stamped-out blank is heated to a temperature ?Ac3 and if need be, kept at this temperature for a predetermined time in order to induce the formation of austenite, and then the heated blank is transferred to a forming die, is formed in the forming die, and is cooled at a speed that is greater than the critical hardening speed and thus hardened; the steel material is adjusted in a transformation-delaying fashion so that a quench hardening through transformation of austenite into martensite takes place at a forming temperature that lies in the range from 450° C. to 700° C.; after the heating and before the forming, an active cooling takes place at >15K/s.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment for controlling flatness of a stainless steel strip in connection with cooling after annealing in a finishing line.

Abstract: A method of quenching a workpiece is provided with one or more spray quench rings that eject a controlled variable volume of spray quench onto a workpiece passing through the quench rings by dynamically adjusting the axially adjustable distance between the inner and outer ring elements of each quench ring while the workpiece passes through the quench rings in response to mass cooling requirements of the workpiece passing through the quench rings. The quench rings can also be axial adjusted relative to each other in response to the mass cooling requirements. Dynamically adjustable reflected spray guards can be provided to prevent quench spray pattern interference between adjacent quench rings.

Abstract: An induction heat treatment method with which temperature control is enabled, condition setting is easy, and the quality of a treatment object can be stabilized includes: a data acquiring step of heating and quench-hardening a sample of the treatment object to thereby acquire process data; a storing step of storing the process data; a checking step of checking the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data as to validity based on the temperature transition data stored in the storing step; and a mass production step of performing heat treatment of the treatment object in accordance with the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data stored in the storing step and checked as to validity in the checking step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus of a hot-rolled steel sheet capable of cooling control of a steel sheet even when disposing a cooling device capable of cooling from inside a finishing mill. The manufacturing apparatus of a hot-rolled steel sheet comprises: an immediate rapid-cooling device capable of spraying cooling water, at least a part thereof being disposed inside a final stand in the row of hot finishing mills; a device for measuring a temperature on an entry side of a final stand; a device for measuring a steel sheet passing speed; a device for predicting a rapid-cooling stopping temperature which calculates a predicted rapid-cooling stopping temperature; and an immediate rapid-cooling control device which corrects the water supply volume or water supply pressure of the immediate rapid-cooling device such that the predicted rapid-cooling stopping temperature matches a targeted rapid-cooling stopping temperature.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a martensitic stainless steel including: 1) heating steel to a temperature higher than austenizing temperature of the steel, then quenching the steel until a hottest portion of the steel is at a temperature less than or equal to a maximum temperature, and greater than or equal to a minimum temperature, a cooling rate being sufficiently fast for austenite not to transform into a ferrito-perlitic structure; 2) performing a first anneal followed by cooling until the hottest portion of the steel is at a temperature less than or equal to the maximum temperature and greater than or equal to the minimum temperature; 3) performing a second anneal followed by cooling to ambient temperature; and at the end of each of 1) and 2), performing: ?) as soon as temperature of the hottest portion of the steel reaches the maximum temperature, immediately heating the steel once more.

Abstract: In a cooling a galvanized steel sheet (W), change in emissivity of a surface of the galvanized steel sheet (W) is measured in a temperature range lower than the boiling point of zinc but not lower than the ferrite transformation temperature, using an emissivity sensor (4) with an observation wavelength of 1.4 ?m or longer, and pressing and quenching in a pressing and quenching apparatus (2) is started after completion of an alloying reaction has been detected based on the change in emissivity. The emissivity sensor (4) preferably has an InGaAs element or a thermopile as a measuring element.

Abstract: Method of reducing the formation of folds on metal strips (1) exposed to rapid heating in continuous heat-treatment lines, in which lines said strips are caused to pass through heating sections (2) comprising successive and separate heating means (5; 5a; 5b; 5c; 5d), wherein the average slope of the increase in temperature of the strip between the inlet and the outlet of a heating means decreases from one heating means to the following heating means.

Abstract: A method of producing a copper alloy wire rod, containing: a casting step for obtaining an ingot by pouring molten copper of a precipitation strengthening copper alloy into a belt-&-wheel-type or twin-belt-type movable mold; and a rolling step for rolling the ingot obtained by the casting step, which steps are continuously performed, wherein an intermediate material of the copper alloy wire rod in the mid course of the rolling step or immediately after the rolling step is quenched.

Abstract: To provide a heat treatment providing a product with quality as desired, high frequency induction heating treatment equipment capable of temperature control to provide such heat treatment includes temperature controlling means for adjusting in temperature an object to be treated, and quenching means for determining when the object heated should be cooled. The temperature controlling means includes heating means, temperature measuring means involved in temperature control, and temperature adjusting means. The quenching means includes temperature measuring means involved in quenching, and heat treatment adjusting means.

Abstract: A system and method for producing locally austempered ductile iron includes a computer program for closely controlling the heating and cooling of an iron part or workpiece. The process allows for the austempering of a relatively low cost iron workpiece to produce significantly higher quality end products. The locally austempered regions may be formed to a substantial controlled depth.

Abstract: A control device for a cooling track for cooling a rolling product accepts at least partially characteristic information for a starting enthalpy value. The control device (8) determines a refrigerant volume progression (K) such that a heat volume corresponding to the difference between the starting enthalpy value (EA) and a prespecified end enthalpy value (EE) is removed from a rolling product segment (12) of the rolling product (5) during the movement of said rolling product through the cooling track (1). The control device (8) determines the refrigerant volume progression (K) independently of whether a prespecified end temperature value (TE) assigned to the end enthalpy value (EE) is reached at the end of application of refrigerant (6) to the rolling product (5). The control device (8) applies refrigerant (6) to the rolling product segment (12) during its passage through the cooling track (1) according to the determined refrigerant volume progression (K).

Abstract: In a method for assisting at least partially manual control of a metal processing line (1), in which metal (4) in strip or slab form or a pre-profiled state is worked, the proportion of at least one metallurgical phase of the metal is continuously determined with respect to at least one specific location of the metal processing line while taking into account operating parameters of the metal processing line (1) that influence the phase state and/or state parameters of the metal, and the proportion of the least one phase with respect to the specific location of the metal processing line is indicated to an operator.

Abstract: The heat treatment method of the present invention includes: a first step of mist cooling a treatment object retained at a prescribed temperature by supplying mist-like coolant, to a target temperature near to and higher than a first transformation point at which a structure of the treatment object begins to be transformed into a prescribed structure; a second step, following the first step, of retaining the treatment object for a prescribed time in a state where supply of mist-like coolant is stopped; and a third step, following the second step, of cooling the treatment object to a temperature lower than or equal to the first transformation point. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a heat treatment method capable of suppressing irregularity and deformation in the structure of the treatment object.

Abstract: A heat treatment method according to the present invention includes a preliminary-state-generating step of heat-treating an alloy that undergoes multiple-step transformation with temperature by bringing the alloy in contact with a contact-type heating element for 0.01 sec or more and 3.0 sec or less, the contact-type heating element being adjusted to a particular temperature within a preliminary-state-generating temperature region determined on the basis of a first temperature related to a particular first transformation of the alloy and a second temperature, which is higher than the first temperature, related to a particular second transformation of the alloy so as to generate a preliminary state in the alloy.

Abstract: A process for treating a workpiece having the steps of: altering the temperature of a workpiece surface wherein at least one condition selected from the group of: thermal treatment rate, relative motion between the surface and said thermal treatment rate, coolant flow rate onto said surface, heating flow rate onto said surface and the relative speed between the heating means or the cooling means and the surface is controllable; simultaneously measuring temperatures at a plurality of locations over the surface of the workpiece; determining an average temperature of the temperatures measured; comparing the average temperature to preselected minimum and maximum temperatures for the workpiece; and automatically adjusting at least one of, the controllable conditions if said average temperature is not between the preselected minimum and maximum temperatures for the workpiece. A system for performing a thermal treatment process and the resulting product are also provided.

Abstract: The homogenization cycle of an alloy is optimized and controlled by defining a target degree of transformation to achieve at least one metallurgical property for an alloy. The desired metallurgical properties include, but are not limited to, dissolving precipitation hardening phases, transforming insoluble phases into preferred phases and precipitating the dispersoid phases to the proper size and distribution. Using regression analysis, a transformation model is obtained to predict the degree of transformation of an alloy by analyzing the degree of transformation of a plurality of sample alloys subjected to heating at predetermine temperatures for predetermined amounts of time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus of a hot-rolled steel sheet capable of cooling control of a steel sheet even when disposing a cooling device capable of cooling from inside a finishing mill. The manufacturing apparatus of a hot-rolled steel sheet comprises: an immediate rapid-cooling device capable of spraying cooling water, at least a part thereof being disposed inside a final stand in the row of hot finishing mills; a device for measuring a temperature on an entry side of a final stand; a device for measuring a steel sheet passing speed; a device for predicting a rapid-cooling stopping temperature which calculates a predicted rapid-cooling stopping temperature; and an immediate rapid-cooling control device which corrects the water supply volume or water supply pressure of the immediate rapid-cooling device such that the predicted rapid-cooling stopping temperature matches a targeted rapid-cooling stopping temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provide a manufacturing method of a hot-rolled steel sheet capable of providing a target temperature for temperature of a rolled material in a final stand in a row of hot finishing mills, even when disposing a cooling device capable of cooling from inside the row of hot finishing mills. The method comprises: rapidly cooling the rolled material by spraying cooling water at inside of the final stand on a lower process side of the final stand in the row of hot finishing mills; obtaining an entry-side surface temperature of the rolled material on an entry side of the final stand; and calculating a target surface temperature on the entry side of the final stand, from a target surface temperature on the exit side of the final stand, based on generated heat and temperature reductions by contact of work rolls with the rolled material and by air cooling.

Abstract: In a method for assisting at least partially manual control of a metal processing line (1), in which metal (4) in strip or slab form or a pre-profiled state is worked, the proportion of at least one metallurgical phase of the metal is continuously determined with respect to at least one specific location of the metal processing line while taking into account operating parameters of the metal processing line (1) that influence the phase state and/or state parameters of the metal, and the proportion of the least one phase with respect to the specific location of the metal processing line is indicated to an operator.

Abstract: A method for heat treatment of steel and a system thereof is provided. First the steel is austenitized at a suitable temperature and then the temperature is rapidly brought down to the austempering temperature. Here the cyclic austempering is carried out between two austempering temperatures by modulating the temperature with controlled heating and cooling and the controlled temperature modulation is obtained by controlling the temperature-time profile in a batch furnace or by controlling the zone temperatures in a continuous furnace. This method of cyclic austempering reduces the austempering time, reduces the energy consumption and emissions, enhances the productivity and reduces the process cost.

Abstract: A magnetic alloy having a composition represented by the general formula of Fe100-x-yCuxBy (atomic %), wherein x and y are numbers meeting the conditions of 0.1?x?3, and 10?y?20, or the general formula of Fe100-x-y-xCuxByZz (atomic %), wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si, S, C, P, Al, Ge, Ga and Be, and x, y and z are numbers meeting the conditions of 0.1?x?3, 10?y?20, 0<z?10, and 10<y+z?24), the magnetic alloy having a structure containing crystal grains having an average diameter of 60 nm or less in an amorphous matrix, and a saturation magnetic flux density of 1.7 T or more.

Abstract: The oxide film thickness of the steel material surface (dH2O+do2) is made to become 15 nm or less where post-treatment after water-cooling is not needed by suitably setting the conditions of the water-cooling start temperature (Ti), water-cooling end temperature (To), steel material thickness (d), concentration of solute oxygen in the cooling water (Do), and cooling rate (CR) in the equation of dH2O+do2=7.98×10?4(Ti?To)dDo+{5.50×10?3(Ti2?To2)?6.51(Ti?To)}/CR.

Abstract: An apparatus for rolling of a powder metallurgical metallic workpiece is provided having a feeding device, a first induction heating apparatus in operable communication with a first RF generator and at least a first hot rolling mill. A process control device monitors at least one parameter of the first RF generator and outputs a signal. A method for continuous rolling of a metallic workpiece is also provided using the apparatus for rolling. The process control device signal can be used to monitor metallurgical properties of the workpiece and provide in-line evaluation of the workpiece.

Abstract: An induction heat treatment method with which temperature control is enabled, condition setting is easy, and the quality of a treatment object can be stabilized includes: a data acquiring step of heating and quench-hardening a sample of the treatment object to thereby acquire process data; a storing step of storing the process data; a checking step of checking the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data as to validity based on the temperature transition data stored in the storing step; and a mass production step of performing heat treatment of the treatment object in accordance with the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data stored in the storing step and checked as to validity in the checking step.

Abstract: A method for the heat treatment of extended steel products such as, for example, rods, pipes, work pieces, etc., while the products are in motion. The products (13, 14, 33, 34, 35) are caused to be heated by DFI burners (6-11, 16-20) (where “DFI” is an abbreviation for “direct flame impingement”), which burners are caused to be located such that one set of burners (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11), (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) essentially covers the circumference of the products, and in the burners are caused to be located integrated into arrangements (2-4, 13) that transport the product in a direction that is perpendicular to a plane in which the flames of the burners essentially lie.

Abstract: An induction heat treatment method with which temperature control is enabled, condition setting is easy, and the quality of a treatment object can be stabilized includes: a data acquiring step of heating and quench-hardening a sample of the treatment object to thereby acquire process data; a storing step of storing the process data; a checking step of checking the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data as to validity based on the temperature transition data stored in the storing step; and a mass production step of performing heat treatment of the treatment object in accordance with the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data stored in the storing step and checked as to validity in the checking step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a copper alloy which is used for mechanically stressed components which, during operation, are subjected to vibrations and/or impacts to produce the same, and have particularly good mechanical damping properties. The composition of said copper alloy depends upon the utilisation temperature or working temperature of the component. Said copper alloy consists of 2-12 wt.-% manganese, 5-14 wt.-% aluminum and individually or in total 0-18 wt.-% of one or several elements, nickel, iron, cobalt, zinc, silicon, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, chromium, tungsten, beryllium, lithium, yttrium, cerium, scandium, calcium, titanium, phosphorous, zirconium, boron, nitrogen, carbon, whereby each element does not contain more that 6% and 100 wt.-% copper.

Abstract: The invention relates to an extrusion billet having two end sides, characterized in that the surface of at least one end side has a three-dimensional topography which is composed of a substantially planar end side face from which local elevations protrude.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling and regulating the temperature of a metal strip in a finishing train of a hot rolling mill. A target function is formed by comparing a desired temperature gradient with an actual temperature gradient. The target function measures deviations from desired indications positioned in various places on the finishing train. The speed of the strip and the flow of the cooling agent are adjusted by predicting with the aid of a method of non-linear optimization with auxiliary conditions and are regulated and controlled online by solving a quadratic optimization problem with linear auxiliary conditions, preferably with the aid of an active set strategy.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for reducing residual stress in a nickel-base superalloy article comprising about 40–70% of gamma prime phase and having a gamma prime solvus temperature is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of super-solvus heat treating the superalloy article about 5–40° F. (3–22° C.) above the gamma prime solvus temperature; and holding at the super-solvus heat treatment temperature for about 0.25–2 hours, wherein the heat-treated superalloy article has reduced residual stress.

Abstract: A sheet material is gripped at its edges and hot blow formed by a pressurized working gas against a forming tool surface. The flow characteristics of the material are determined at increasing gas pressures over a range of temperature relevant to the forming operation. A predetermined pressure/time schedule is determined at a reference temperature for rapid shape formation of good parts on a continual basis. The process is then controlled as parts are thus formed by measuring the forming temperature of the parts and correcting the pressure time schedule, using the determined flow characteristics, for the actual temperature to achieve the desired shape evolution of the parts.