Evaluation of Quenching Methods for the Purpose of Acoustic Data Collection

Abstract Using data pertaining to the audible emission of processes has become a growing area of research in recent years. This principle has been applied to the monitoring of the heat treatment process during quenching. This work highlights the importance of a proper testing methodology when collecting such data. The primary purpose of this research paper is to compare and contrast three different methodologies for controlling the experimental process and limiting variation. The first method is manual quenching, the second method automates the process by lowering the sample into the quenching medium, and the third method automates the process by raising the quenching medium container while the sample to be quenched remains fixed. In each of these methods, a spherical acoustic microphone array was used as a beam former directed at the location in which the sample entered the quenching medium. The comparisons in this work indicate that the third option yields the most consistent and repeatable results.