Method and apparatus for estimating a mechanical property

Abstract

A method for supervising a process for producing a metal alloy object with a known chemical composition. A resistivity of the metal alloy object is determined. A content of dissolved alloying elements in the metal alloy object is estimated based on the determined resistivity and the chemical composition of the metal alloy object. A content of precipitated alloying elements in the metal alloy object is estimated based on the determined resistivity and the chemical composition of the metal alloy object. The production process is supervised based on a ratio between the estimated content of dissolved alloying elements and the estimated content of precipitated alloying elements.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A computer program product, comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for carrying out a method of estimating one or more internal mechanical properties of a metal alloy object with a known chemical composition based on the resistivity of the metal alloy object, the method comprising:   determining the resistivity of the metal alloy object,   calculating the content of dissolved alloying elements in the metal alloy object based on the determined resistivity and the chemical composition of the metal alloy object, and based thereon   calculating at least one internal mechanical property of the metal alloy object.   
     
     
         24 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method for supervising a process for producing a metal alloy object with a known chemical composition, the method comprising:
 determining a resistivity of the metal alloy object,   estimating a content of dissolved alloying elements in the metal alloy object based on the determined resistivity and the chemical composition of the metal alloy object,   estimating a content of precipitated alloying elements in the metal alloy object based on the determined resistivity and the chemical composition of the metal alloy object, and   supervising the production process based on a ratio between the estimated content of dissolved alloying elements and the estimated content of precipitated alloying elements.   
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
 presenting the estimated contents of dissolved and precipitated alloying elements in the metal alloy object to an operator.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
 calculating a ratio between the estimated content of dissolved alloying elements and the estimated content of precipitated alloying elements and presenting the calculated ratio to an operator.