Understanding forgeability in superalloys

Nickel-based superalloys are widely used in high-temperature applications due to their excellent mechanical and environmental properties. However, they are difficult to process due to their inherent high-temperature strength and optimal forging conditions are typically identified through extensive experimental testing.
The objective of this research is to gain understanding of the relationships between composition, microstructure and hot formability in nickel-based superalloys; here 'formability' is understood in a wide sense as plastic flow behaviour at different forging conditions - temperature and strain rate - and surface crack initiation.
In this research project characterisation, experimentation and previous results will be used to develop physics-based computational models of Nickel-based superalloys during hot forging, which will subsequently be validated performing selected experiments. These models will allow defining optimal processing conditions for next-generation superalloys, avoiding lengthy and costly experimental testing and significant material waste.