The Influence of the Closure of the East Paleo-Tethys Ocean on Southern South China:Evidences from Kinematics and^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar Geochronology of the Rongxian Ductile Shear Zone in Southeastern Guangxi

The Triassic was a crucial period in the tectonic evolution of the South China Block.Research on tectonic deformation during this period provides information on intracontinental orogenic mechanisms in South China.In this study,alongside thermochronological analyses,we examine the macroscopic and microscopic structural features of the Rongxian ductile shear zone,located south of the Darongshan granite in the southeastern part of Guangxi Province,on the southern margin of South China.Sinistral shear is indicated by the characteristics of rotatedσ-type feldspar porphyroclasts,stretching lineations defined by elongated quartz grains and the orientations of quartz c-axes.LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons from two samples of granitic mylonite and one of granite yielded ages of ca.256 Ma.Furthermore,two samples of granitic mylonite yield muscovite^(40)Ar/^(39)Ar plateau ages of 249-246 Ma.These results indicate that the Rongxian ductile shear zone resulted from Early Triassic deformation of the late Permian Darongshan granite.This deformation was likely related to the closure of the eastern Paleo-Tethys Ocean and the subsequent collision of the South China and Indochina blocks,during the early stage of the Indosinian orogeny.

Phase-field modeling for anisotropic ductile damage of magnesium alloys at finite deformations

The damage anisotropy of an extruded ZK60 Mg alloy is characterized using tensile tests and scanning electronic microscopy.The accumulation of anisotropic deformations leads to the great differences of the dimple evolution and strains at fracture along different loading directions.To introduce the anisotropic deformation information into the damage constitutive relationship,a thermodynamically consistent phase-field model of ductile damage fully coupled with elastoplastic finite deformations is developed in this study.Using the user-defined constitutive relationship and displacement-temperature coupling element,the finite element simulations are conducted.The results show that:(1)ZK60 Mg alloys presents clear R-value difference in 0°,45°,and 90°tests of intact specimens.The 45°test possesses the greatest R-value(1.50)and the greatest strain at fracture,however,the R-value for 0°is less than 1,indicating the thinning is preferential.(2)The higher ultimate stress leads to a larger average dimension of the dimples,whereas the higher density correlates with a larger elongation ratio at the fracture.The disappearance of the stress-bearing area indicates that the phase-field assumption on stress degradation is completely compatible with the dimple analysis on fractography.(3)The simulation results of the stress-strain relationships and damage paths correlate well with the experimental ductile damage of magnesium alloys at 200◦C.Slight errors are basically attributed to the modeling parameters and finite element iteration algorithm.The proposed model presents fine applicability and reliability for the predictions of plastic deformations,ductile damage,and fracture of anisotropic Mg alloys.

The Early Mesozoic NE-SW Extensional Model and Exhumation Processes at the Southeastern Margin of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt:Insights from the Strain and Kinematic Vorticity Analysis of the Sonid Zuoqi Ductile Detachment Zone

The Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is located at the southeastern margin of the Central Asian orogenic belt(CAOB),striking EW and dipping to the S.The major rock type of the Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is mylonite derived from granite.The sequence of mylonite features is:(1)S and C foliations of mylonite,and(2)extensional crenulation cleavage(ecc)or C′and the kinematic vorticity(Wk)value changed from 0.70 to 0.95 and from 0.37 to 0.69,respectively;the strain type of the mylonites within the Sonid Zuoqi ductile detachment zone is compressional to planar strain.The strong deformation mylonite and Halatu plutons yielded a zircon U-Pb age of 244 Ma and a zircon(U-Th)/He age of 214 Ma,respectively.Based on the strain and kinematic vorticity analysis,together with the zircon U-Pb and zircon(U-Th)/He ages and the regional tectonic background,the study area experienced three stage evolution:tangential simpleshear(244 Ma),simple-shear-dominated general shear represented by upper crustal extension(224 Ma)and pure-shear-dominated general shear represented by the Halatu pluton doming(214 Ma),which constrained the early Mesozoic NE-SW crustal extension at the southeastern margin of the CAOB.This NE-SW extension probably originated from the postorogenic extensional collapse of the CAOB,subsequent exhumation being controlled by the far afield effects of the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk belt.

Modeling the Interaction between Vacancies and Grain Boundaries during Ductile Fracture

The experimental results in previous studies have indicated that during the ductile fracture of pure metals,vacancies aggregate and form voids at grain boundaries.However,the physical mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains not fully understood.This study derives the equilibrium distribution of vacancies analytically by following thermodynamics and the micromechanics of crystal defects.This derivation suggests that vacancies cluster in regions under hydrostatic compression to minimize the elastic strain energy.Subsequently,a finite element model is developed for examining more general scenarios of interaction between vacancies and grain boundaries.This model is first verified and validated through comparison with some available analytical solutions,demonstrating consistency between finite element simulation results and analytical solutions within a specified numerical accuracy.A systematic numerical study is then conducted to investigate the mechanism that might govern the micromechanical interaction between grain boundaries and the profuse vacancies typically generated during plastic deformation.The simulation results indicate that the reduction in total elastic strain energy can indeed drive vacancies toward grain boundaries,potentially facilitating void nucleation in ductile fracture.

Deformation characteristics of granitic rocks in Erguna ductile shear zone,NE China

The Erguna ductile shear zone is situated in the Erguna Massif,which has been exposed along the eastern bank of the Erguna River in northeastern China.The authors present comprehensive study results on the macro-and micro-structures,finite strain and kinematic vorticity,quartz electron backscatter diffraction(EBSD)fabrics,and geochronology of granitic rocks in the Erguna ductile shear zone.The deformed granitic rocks have experienced significant SE-trending dextral strike-slip shearing.Finite strain and kinematic vorticity in all deformed granitic rocks indicate that the deformation is characterized by simple sheardominated general shearing with S-L tectonites.Mineral deformation behaviors and quartz C-axis textures demonstrate that the deformed granitic rocks developed under greenschist to amphibolite facies conditions at deformation temperatures ranging from 450 to 550℃.New LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb ages indicate that these granitic rocks were formed in Early Triassic(~248.6 Ma)and Early Cretaceous(~136.7 Ma).All the evidence indicates that this deformation may have occurred in Early Cretaceous and was related to the compression resulting from the final closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.

High temperature oxidation of inoculated high Si/SiMo ductile cast irons in air and combustion atmospheres

The present work aims to investigate the effect of heating temperature(400,600 and 800°C)and inoculating elements(Ca,Ca-Ba,Ca-RE)on oxidation behavior of ductile irons containing 5.25%Si and 4.8%Si-2.3%Mo in dry air and combustion gas containing water vapour(natural gas burning).The oxidation is influenced by the gas atmosphere type,the iron alloying system,and the inoculating elements depending on the heating temperature.The weight gain increases from 0.001%-0.1%(400°C)to 0.05%-0.70%(600°C)and up to 0.10%-2.15%(800°C).No particular effects of the considered influencing factors are found when heating at 400°C,while at 600°C,mainly the oxidation gas atmosphere type shows a visible influence.At the highest heating temperature of 800°C,a limited increase of the weight gain is found for dry air atmosphere(up to 0.25%),but it drastically increases for combustion atmospheres(0.65%-2.15%).The water vapour presence in the combustion atmosphere is an important oxidising factor at 600-800°C.The alloying system appears to influence the oxidation behavior mainly at a heating temperature of 800°C in the combustion atmosphere,as evidenced by the lower weight gain in 5.25%silicon cast iron.Positive effects of inoculating elements increase with the heating temperature,with Ca and Ba-FeSi inoculation generally showing better performance.Irons inoculated with CaRE-FeSi exhibit a higher degree of oxidation.These results are in good relationship with the previous reported data:Ca-Ba-inoculation system appears to be better than simple Ca for improving the graphite parameters,while RE-bearing inoculant negatively affects the compactness degree of graphite particles in high-Si ductile irons.As the lower compactness degree is typical for graphite nodules in high-Si ductile irons,which negatively affects the oxidation resistance,it is necessary to employ specific metallurgical treatments to improve nodule quality.Inoculation,in particular,is a potential method to achieve this improvement.

Tailoring Carbon Distribution inα/γPhase of Ductile Iron and Its Effects on Thermal Conductivity

The effects of carbon distribution on the microstructure and thermal conductivity of ductile iron were investigated in the present study.The microstructure of as-cast and quenched ductile iron were characterized by OM and SEM.Results showed that the microstructure of as-cast ductile iron was composed of spheroidal graphite,ferrite with the volume of 80%,and a small amount of pearlite,and quenched ductile iron was composed of spheroidal graphite,coarse/fine acicular martensite(α_(M)phase)and high-carbon retained austenite(γphase).The volume fraction of retained austensite and its carbon content for direct quenched ductile iron and tepmered ductile iron were quantitatively analysed by XRD.Results revealed that carbon atoms diffused fromα_(M)phase toγphase during tempering at low temperatures,which resulted in carbon content in retainedγphase increasing from 1.2 wt%for the direct quenched sample to about 1.9 wt%for the tempered samples.Consequently,the lattice distortion was significantly reduced and gave rise to an increase of thermal conductivity for ductile iron.

Is Mg_(17)Al_(12) ductile or brittle?A theoretical insight

The Mg_(17)Al_(12)-phase,which is common and important in Mg-Al alloy,has long been regarded as a brittle phase in experiments but theoretical calculations report controversial results.To unravel why theoretical calculations report controversial results and determine whether Mg_(17)Al_(12)is brittle or ductile,density functional theory calculations on atomic level are performed to investigate mechanic properties of Mg_(17)Al_(12)without containing alloying elements and without taking the size effect.The results showed that the parameter k-point played critical role in the DFT-based elastic calculations.The convergent G/B ratio of Mg_(17)Al_(12)was about 0.52,suggesting that the Mg_(17)Al_(12)-phase was theoretically ductile although its ductility was poor.The chemical bonding in Mg_(17)Al_(12)was the mixture of metallic Mg-Mg bond and covalent Al-Al bond.The advantage of metallic bonding over covalent bonding provided a possible explanation for the ductility of Mg_(17)Al_(12).Possible reasons for the brittleness of Mg_(17)Al_(12)in experiments are also discussed.

A Bidimensional Finite Element Study of Crack Propagation in Austempered Ductile Iron

Austempered ductile iron(ADI)is composed of an ausferritic matrix with graphite nodules and has a wide range of applications because of its high mechanical strength,fatigue resistance,and wear resistance compared to other cast irons.The amount and size of the nodules can be controlled by the chemical composition and austenitizing temperature.As the nodules have lower stiffness than the matrix and can act as stress concentrators,they influence crack propagation.However,the crack propagation mechanism in ADI is not yet fully understood.In this study,we describe a numerical investigation of crack propagation in ADIs subjected to cyclic loading.The numerical model used to calculate the stress intensity factors in the material under the given conditions is built with the aid of Abaqus commercial finite element code.The crack propagation routine,which is based on the Paris law,is implemented in Python.The results of the simulation show that the presence of a nodule generates a shear load on the crack tip.Consequently,even under uniaxial tensile loading,the presence of the nodule yields a non-zero stress intensity factor in mode II,resulting in a deviation in the crack propagation path.This is the primary factor responsible for changing the crack propagation direction towards the nodule.Modifying the parameters,for example,increasing the nodule size or decreasing the distance between the nodule and crack tip,can intensify this effect.In simulations comparing two different ADIs with the same graphite fraction area,the crack in the material with more nodules reaches another nodule in a shorter propagation time(or shorter number of cycles).This suggests that the high fatigue resistance observed in ADIs may be correlated with the number of nodules intercepted by a crack and the additional energy required to nucleate new cracks.In summary,these findings contribute to a better understanding of crack propagation in ADIs,provide insights into the relationship between the presence of nodules and the fatigue resistance of these materials,and support studies that associate the increased fatigue resistance with a higher number of graphite nodules.These results can also help justify the enhanced fatigue resistance of ADIs when compared to other cast irons.

Achieving High Strength and Tensile Ductility in Pure Nickel by Cryorolling with Subsequent Low-Temperature Short-Time Annealing

Ultra fine-grained pure metals and their alloys have high strength and low ductility.In this study,cryorolling under different strains followed by low-temperature short-time annealing was used to fabricate pure nickel sheets combining high strength with good ductility.The results show that,for different cryorolling strains,the uniform elongation was greatly increased without sacrificing the strength after annealing.A yield strength of 607 MPa and a uniform elongation of 11.7%were obtained after annealing at a small cryorolling strain(ε=0.22),while annealing at a large cryorolling strain(ε=1.6)resulted in a yield strength of 990 MPa and a uniform elongation of 6.4%.X-ray diffraction(XRD),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),and electron backscattered diffraction(EBSD)were used to characterize the microstructure of the specimens and showed that the high strength could be attributed to strain hardening during cryorolling,with an additional contribution from grain refinement and the formation of dislocation walls.The high ductility could be attributed to annealing twins and micro-shear bands during stretching,which improved the strain hardening capacity.The results show that the synergistic effect of strength and ductility can be regulated through low-temperature short-time annealing with different cryorolling strains,which provides a new reference for the design of future thermo-mechanical processes.

Achieving high ductility and low in-plane anisotropy in magnesium alloy through a novel texture design strategy

Texture regulation is a prominent method to modify the mechanical properties and anisotropy of magnesium alloy.In this work,the Mg-1Al-0.3Ca-0.5Mn-0.2Gd(wt.%)alloy sheet with TD-tilted and circular texture was fabricated by unidirectional rolling(UR)and multidirectional rolling(MR)method,respectively.Unlike generating a strong in-plane mechanical anisotropy in conventional TD-tilted texture,the novel circular texture sample possessed a weak in-plane yield anisotropy.This can be rationalized by the similar proportion of soft grains with favorable orientation for basalslip and{10.12}tensile twinning during the uniaxial tension of circular-texture sample along different directions.Moreover,compared with the TD-tilted texture,the circular texture improved the elongation to failure both along the rolling direction(RD)and transverse direction(TD).By quasi-in-situ EBSD-assisted slip trace analysis,higher activation of basal slip was observed in the circular-texture sample during RD tension,contributing to its excellent ductility.When loading along the TD,the TD-tilted texture promoted the activation of{10.12}tensile twins significantly,thus providing nucleation sites for cracks and deteriorating the ductility.This research may shed new insights into the development of formable and ductile Mg alloy sheets by texture modification.

Exploring a balance between strength and ductility of hexagonal BN nanoplatelet reinforced ZK61 magnesium composite

The practical applications of magnesium(Mg)alloys are usually beset by their relatively low strength and limited ductility.Herein we attempt to fabricate hexagonal BN nanoplatelet(BNNP)reinforced ZK61 magnesium composites using a combination of spark plasma sintering and friction stir processing.The resulting composites exhibit microstructural characteristics of homogeneous dispersion of BNNP in Mg matrix with refined equiaxed grains and(0002)basal texture roughly surrounding the pin column surface.Transmission electron microscopy observation illustrates that trace amounts of Mg_(3)N_(2)and MgB_(2)form at BNNP-Mg interface,in which Mg_(3)N_(2)locates at the basal plane of a BNNP and MgB_(2)grows at its open edge.The spatial distribution of Mg_(3)N_(2)and MgB_(2)facilitates interfacial wetting and stronger BNNP-Mg interface in such a way that interfacial products act as anchors bonding between them.In comparison with monolithic ZK61 alloy,the BNNP/ZK61 composites display simultaneous improvements in yield strength,hardness and ductility,achieving good strength-ductility balance.This research is expected to shed some light on BNNP potentials for designing and producing magnesium composites with high strength and good ductility.

Evaluation of varying ductile fracture criterion for 7075 aluminum alloy

As one of the principal failures,ductile fracturing restricts metal forming process.Cockcroft-Latham type fracture criterion is suited for ductile fracture in bulk metal-forming simulation.Finding a way to evaluate the ductile fracture criterion（DFC） and identify the relationship between DFC and deformation conditions for a strain-softening material,7075 aluminum alloy;however,it is a non-trivial issue that still needs to be addressed in a greater depth.An innovative approach is brought forth that the compression tests and numerical simulations provide mutual support to evaluate the ductile damage cumulating process and determine the DFC diagram.One of the results shows that for a fixed temperature,the maximum cumulated damage decreases regularly with increasing strain rate.The most important result shows that DFC of 7075 aluminum alloy at temperatures of 573-723 K and strain rates of 0.01-10 s-1 is not a constant but a change in a range of 0.255-0.453,thus it has been defined with varying ductile fracture criterion（VDFC） and characterized by a function of strain rate and temperature.According to VDFC diagram,the exact fracture moment and position during various forming processes will be predicted conveniently,in addition to which,the deformation domains with lower fracture risk corresponding to higher VDFC can be identified.

Modified MK model combined with ductile fracture criterion and its application in warm hydroforming

A modified MK model combined with ductile fracture criterion（DFC-MK model） is proposed to compute the forming limit diagrams（FLDs） of 5A06-O aluminum alloy sheet at different temperatures.The material constant（C） of ductile fracture criterion and initial thickness imperfection parameter（f0） at various temperatures are determined by using a new computing method based on wide sheet bending test.The FLDs at 20 and 200 °C are calculated through the DFC-MK model.The DFC-MK model,which includes the influence of through-thickness normal stress,is written into the subroutine VUMAT embedded in Abaqus/ Explicit.The cylindrical cup hydroforming tests are carried out to verify the model.The results show that compared with experimental observations,the predicted FLDs based on DFC-MK model are more accurate than the conventional MK model;the errors between the simulations and experiments in warm hydroforming are 8.23% at 20 °C and 9.24% at 200 °C,which verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Numerical simulation of ductile fracture behavior for aluminum alloy sheet under cyclic plastic deformation

A numerical analysis of mechanical behavior of aluminum alloy sheet under cyclic plastic deformation was investigated.Forming limit at fracture was derived from Cockcroft-Latham ductile damage criterion.The strain path of bending center of incremental roller hemming could be accepted as a kind of plane strain bending deformation process.Incremental rope roller hemming could be used to alleviate ductile fracture behavior by changing the stress state of the hemming-effected area.SEM observation on the fracture surface indicates that cyclic plastic deformation affects ductile fracture mechanism.

Paleozoic Accretion-Collision Events and Kinematics of Ductile Deformation in the Eastern Part of the Southern-Central Tianshan Belt, China

The Tianshan range could have been built by both late Early Paleozoicaccretion and Late Paleozoic collision events. The late Early Paleozoic Aqqikkudug-Weiya suture ismarked by Ordovician ophiolitic melange and a Silurian flysch sequence, high-pressure metamorphicrelics, and mylonitized rocks. The Central Tianshan belt could principally be an Ordovician volcanicarc; whereas the South Tianshan belt, a back-arc basin. Macro- and microstructures, along withunconformities, provide some kinematic and chronological constraints on 2-phase ductile deformation.The earlier ductile deformation occurring at ca. 400 Ma was marked by north-verging ductileshearing, yielding granulite-bearing ophiolitic melange blocks and garnet-pyroxene-facies ductiledeformation, and the later deformation, a dextral strike-slip tectonic process, occurred during theLate Carboniferous-Early Permian. Early Carboniferous molasses were deposited unconformably onpre-Carboniferous metamorphic and ductilely sheared rocks, implying the end of the early orogeny.The large-scale ductile strike-slip along the Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone was possibly caused by thesecond tectonic event, the Hercynian collision between the northern Tarim block and the southernSiberian block. Late Paleozoic granitic magmatism and superimposed structures overprinted this EarlyPaleozoic deformation belt. Results of geometric and kinematic studies suggest that the primaryframework of the Southern-Central Tianshan belt, at least the eastern part of the Tianshan belt, wasbuilt by these two phases of accretion events.

A Large-Scale Palaeozoic Dextral Ductile Strike-Slip Zone:the Aqqikkudug-Weiya Zone along the Northern Margin of the Central Tianshan Belt,Xinjiang,NW China

Abstract The nearly E-W-trending Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone, more than 1000 km long and about 30 km wide, is an important segment in the Central Asian tectonic framework. It is distributed along the northern margin of the Central Tianshan belt in Xinjiang, NW China and is composed of mylonitized Early Palaeozoic greywacke, volcanic rocks, ophiolitic blocks as a mélange complex, HP/LT-type bleuschist blocks and mylonitized Neoproterozoic schist, gneiss and orthogneiss. Nearly vertical mylonitic foliation and sub-horizontal stretching lineation define its strike-slip feature; various kinematic indicators, such as asymmetric folds, non-coaxial asymmetric macro- to micro-structures and C-axis fabrics of quartz grains of mylonites, suggest that it is a dextral strike-slip ductile shear zone oriented in a nearly E-W direction characterized by “flower” strusture with thrusting or extruding across the zone toward the two sides and upright folds with gently plunging hinges. The Aqqikkudug-Weiya zone experienced at least two stages of ductile shear tectonic evolution: Early Palaeozoic north vergent thrusting ductile shear and Late Carboniferous-Early Permian strike-slip deformation. The strike-slip ductile shear likely took place during Late Palaeozoic time, dated at 269±5 Ma by the40Ar/39Ar analysis on neo-muscovites. The strike-slip deformation was followed by the Hercynian violent S-type granitic magmatism. Geodynamical analysis suggests that the large-scale dextral strike-slip ductile shearing is likely the result of intracontinental adjustment deformation after the collision of the Siberian continental plate towards the northern margin of the Tarim continental plate during the Late Carboniferous. The Himalayan tectonism locally deformed the zone, marked by final uplift, brittle layer-slip and step-type thrust faults, transcurrent faults and E-W-elongated Mesozoic-Cenozoic basins.

Late Caledonian Ductile Thrusting Deformation in the Central East Kunlun Belt, Qinghai, China and Its Significance: Evidence from Geochronology

A high-angle ductile thrusting deformation with top-to-the-north movement penetratively developed in the Proterozoic-Early Paleozoic metamorphic rocks along the Central East Kunlun belt. The deformed rocks suffered epidote-amphibolite facies metamorphism. On the basis of our previous study, we present more data in this paper to further support that the ducdle thrust deformation occurred in the later Caledonian and more detailed information about the deformation. A zircon U-Pb concordant age of 446±2.2 Ma of a deformed granodiorite in the ductile thrust zone was obtained and can be interpreted as the lower limit of the deformation. A syntectonically crystallized and also strongly deformed hornblende Ar/ Ar dating gives an Ar/Ar plateau age of 426.5±3.8 Ma, which represents the deformation age. A strongly orientated muscovite gives an Ar/Ar plateau age of 408±1.6Ma, representing the cooling age after the peak temperature, constraining the upper limit of the ductile thrust deformation. This ductile thrust deformation can be interpreted as the result of the closing of the Central East Kunlun archipelago ocean. To the north, Ar/Ar plateau ages of 382.9±0.2 Ma and 386.8±0.8 Ma of muscovite in the deformed Xiaomiao Group represent the uplift cooling ages of deeper rocks after the thrusting movement. The original thrusting foliation has a low angle. A rotation model was put forward to explain the development of the foliation from the original low-angle to present high-angle dipping.

Post-Collisional Ductile Extensional Tectonic Framework in the UHP and HP Metamorphic Belts in the Dabie-Sulu Region, China

The present-day observable tectonic framework of the ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) and high-pressure (HP) metamorphic belts in the Dabie-Sulu region was dominantly formed by an extensional process, mostly between 200 and 170 Ma, following the Triassic collision between the Sino-Korean and Yangtze cratons. The framework that controls the present spatial distribution of UHP and HP metamorphic rocks in particular displays the typical features of a Cordilleran-type metamorphic core complex, in which at least four regional-scale, shallow-dipping detachment zones are recognized. Each of these detachment zones corresponds to a pressure gap of 0.5 to 2.0 GPa. The detachment zones separate the rocks exposed in the region into several petrotectonic units with different P-T conditions. The geometry and kinematics of both the detachment zones and the petrotectonic units show that the exhumation of UHP and HP metamorphic rocks in the Dabie-Sulu region was achieved, at least in part, by non-coaxial ductile flow in the multi-layered detachment zones, and by coaxial vertical shortening and horizontal stretching in the metamorphic units, under amphibolite- to greenschist-facies conditions, and in an extensional regime. All ductile extensional deformations occurred at depths below 10 to 15 km, i.e. below the brittle/ductile deformation transition.

A study on controlled cooling process for making bainitic ductile iron

In the present research, TTT curve of bainitic ductile iron under the condition of controlled cooling was generated. The cooling rate of grinding ball and its temperature distribution were also measured at the same time. It can be concluded that the bainitic zone of TTT curve is separated from the pearlitic zone. As compared to the water-quenching condition, more even cooling rate and temperature distribution can be achieved in the controlled cooling process. The controlled cooling can keep away from pearlitic zone in the high temperature cooling stage and produce similar results to the process of traditional isothermal cooling with a low cooling rate in the low temperature cooling stage.