Quench Factor Analysis can be used for modeling the transformations that take place during cooling.

Different approaches can be used to simulate phase transformations in steels during heat treatment. Several Finite Element softwares are available to perform such numerical simulations such as SYSWELD (ESI Group), FORGE-NXT, DEFORM-HT...

The following papers among others deal with this subject :

Denis S., Archambault P., Aubry C., Mey A., Louin Ch., Simon A., “Modelling of phase transformation kinetics in steels and coupling with heat treatment residual stress predictions”, Proc. of 3rd European Mechanics of Materials Conf., (1998)

J.-M. Bergheau, G. Mangialenti, F. Boitout, « Contribution of numerical simulation to the analysis of heat treatment and surface hardening processes », Proc. of Heat Treat ’98, 18th ASM Heat Treating Society Conference and Exposition, ASM International, 1998, pp. 681-690.

J.-M. Bergheau, F. Boitout, V. Toinet, S. Denis, A. Simon, « Finite element simulation of coupled carbon diffusion, metallurgical transformation and heat transfer with applications on the automobile industry », Proc. of 3rd Int. Conference on Quenching and Control of Distortion, ASM International, 1999, pp. 145-156.

E. Feulvarch, M. Fontaine, J.M. Bergheau, « XFEM investigation of a crack path in residual stresses resulting from quenching », Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, Vol. 75, 2013, pp. 62-70.