Abstract: In this paper the finite difference method derived from heat balance was used to simulate the heating process for disk forging billet of alloy GH169. The calculated results indicate that if the billet is not [covered with the insulation and stainless steel sheet, thermal stress due to large temperature gradient may cccur in the billet at the early stege of heating cycle. The heating cycle of GH169 billet covered with insulation and stainless steel sheet is prolonged, however, the temperature distribution is so uniform that one stage heating cycle is enough and the heating cycle can be shortened by-20%, and the quality of GH169 disk forging is improved. The results presented in this paper are useful in defining the optimal heating cycle for alloy GH169 billet.

Key words: alloy GFI169, hecting process, numerical simulation