Analysis on the Quenching Deformation Characteristics of Light Cast Aluminum Alloy Wheels and Their Control Strategies
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The aim of the paper is to analyze the gas-liquid-solid multi-phase change by means of a model established through ANSYS platform.
Some changes are required for a possible publication.
1)Improve the quality of figures 1, 10a,12b, 13
2) The authors can improve the description of the Finite element model used (How many elements? Which type of elements used, etc)
3) In the conclusion the authors have to introduce a short description of work done.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 1 Comments
Point 1: Improve the quality of figures 1, 10a, 12b, 13.
Response 1: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have uploaded all the figures with high quality.
Point 2: The authors can improve the description of the Finite element model used (How many elements? Which type of elements used, etc).
Response 2: Added the the description of the Finite element model: The mesh type is tetrahedron and the total number of elements is 1428024.
Point 3: In the conclusion the authors have to introduce a short description of work done..
Response 3: In this paper, a Heat-Fluid-Solid coupling simulation model of water immersion quenching process and a new type of composite step hardening process with spray + water test platform for light cast aluminum alloy wheel were independently established. Through the simulation analysis of quenching deformation characteristics, experimental exploration of new quenching process and the performance test characterization, the quenching heat transfer mechanism and deformation control strategy of light cast aluminum alloy wheel were accurately constructed. The main conclusions are as follows:
Thank you again for your detailed review and kindly suggestions. Merry christmas!
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
Generally speaking, the article is full of content and has strong scientific value. However, there are still some unclear results and analyses in the current manuscripts. Here I would like to give some suggestions to further improve the manuscript.
- All parameters used in formulas must be explained. It is recommended to attach all parameters and abbreviations used in a table at the end of the article.
- Abbreviations/ acronyms, should all be defined at their first occurrence in the manuscript;
- Specifications of devices and standards used in microscopy, hardness, and tensile tests should be given in the materials and methods section.
- The titles of different sections and sub-sections should be revised. The introduction comes with the number 1 and the rest are given in order.
- The quality of the metallographic images in Figure 14 is low. The scale of Figure 14 is not legible.
- The writing of references is not the same and should be corrected.
- The type and distribution of phases and grain size should be determined in Figure 14 and compared in two modes: water immersion, and spray + water immersion.
- The title of the vertical axis in Figures 6 and 8 should be corrected and "Tempeture" should be changed to "Temperature".
- In Table 1, instead of the x sign, a cross sign (×) should be used.
- The vertical axis of figure 12 "deformation" should come instead of "diformation".
- The details of the characterization tests, such as the sample preparation methods, the dimensions of the samples, and the technical specifications of the test should be given in the materials and test method section.
- The chemical composition of aluminum alloy should be given.
- Literature review is not sufficient and authors must review and cite more papers in the field and especially newly published ones. Doing this, reviewing the following refs could be helpful: Materials Science and Engineering A, 542, 2012, 15-20, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 86, 2016, 1639-1658.
Author Response
Response to Reviewer 2 Comments
Point 1: All parameters used in formulas must be explained. It is recommended to attach all parameters and abbreviations used in a table at the end of the article.
Response 1: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have added table 4 (Nomenclatures explanation)at the end of the article.
Point 2: Abbreviations/ acronyms, should all be defined at their first occurrence in the manuscript.
Response 2: 3.2. FEM changed to Finite Element Modeling
5.2. CMM changed to Coordinate Measuring Machine(CMM)
Point 3: Specifications of devices and standards used in microscopy, hardness, and tensile tests should be given in the materials and methods section.
Response 3: Have added:Cylindrical compression test specimens of 80 mm length and 5±0.02 mm diameter were machined from five typical locations of two wheels. Two stretch bars are taken from one typical location of each wheel. Limited by the rim wall thickness, no tensile specimens were taken at the rim. Using a Zwick universal testing machine with 0.17mm/s to obtain the yield strength, elongation and tensile strength in Figure 14. The Brinell hardness was measured by a Wilson Wolpert Brinell hardness tester on a 10 X10 X10mm part with HB 5/250 method, 4 points are taken from one part, the first point is excluded and the remaining three points are averaged. The microstructures of the samples have been characterized using Axiover-200MAT metallographic microscope. The samples cut by wire electric discharge machine to 10X10X10mm, then prepared by grinding disks and polished and finally etched with absolute ethanol and dried with a dryer, 0.5% HF acid solution.
Point 4: The titles of different sections and sub-sections should be revised. The introduction comes with the number 1 and the rest are given in order.
Response 4: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have updated.
Point 5: The quality of the metallographic images in Figure 14 is low. The scale of Figure 14 is not legible.
Response 5: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have updated to a high quality figure and changed the measuring scale bugger.
Point 6: The writing of references is not the same and should be corrected.
Response 6: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have updated.
Point 7: The type and distribution of phases and grain size should be determined in Figure 14 and compared in two modes: water immersion, and spray + water immersion.
Response 7: Added the phases introduction on Figure title: showing α-Al (bright), Al–Si eutectic (dark) phases. Frankly speaking, I do not meaure the grain size.As for the casted aluminum alloy wheel,the the grain size is not the key parameter(not like forged aluminum wheel),so I do not measure the grain size.Thank you for your suggestion,and we will consider the the grain size next time.
Point 8: The title of the vertical axis in Figures 6 and 8 should be corrected and "Tempeture" should be changed to "Temperature".
Response 8: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have updated.
Point 9: In Table 1, instead of the x sign, a cross sign (×) should be used.
Response 9: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have updated.
Point 10: The vertical axis of figure 12 "deformation" should come instead of "diformation".
Response 10: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have updated.
Point 11: The details of the characterization tests, such as the sample preparation methods, the dimensions of the samples, and the technical specifications of the test should be given in the materials and test method section.
Response 11: updated on 5.4.with adding words and figure.
Point 12: The chemical composition of aluminum alloy should be given.
Response 12: Thank you for your kindly reminder. I have added a table of chemical composition.
Point 13: Literature review is not sufficient and authors must review and cite more papers in the field and especially newly published ones. Doing this, reviewing the following refs could be helpful: Materials Science and Engineering A, 542, 2012, 15-20, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 86, 2016, 1639-1658.
Response 13: Thank you for your kindly reminder. For your suggestions of these two articles, I learn much on the microscopic characterization and knowledge of material . Have updated,thank you again.
Thank you again for your detailed review and kindly suggestions. Merry christmas!
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have addressed previous comments adequately, and I can now recommend the revised manuscript's publication. My final decision for the revised manuscript is Accept.
