Constrained groove uniform pressing process for achieving homogeneously improved properties in copper

Abstract

Constrained groove pressing (CGP) is a popular method to produce an ultrafine-grained microstructure and thus enhanced mechanical properties in the metal sheet. CGP is a severe plastic deformation technique that simultaneously presses the metal sheet with flat and grooved dies to subject it to large shear strain without changing the dimensions. The inherent inhomogeneity of the processed sheet may be a drawback of the CGP process. According to published research, this is caused by the sharp edges of the grooved dies responsible for additional bending strain along with shear strain. Moreover, even if the grooves are made circular, it can impart constant bending strain, but the shear strain varies. In this research, a new die has been designed to impart constant combined bending and shear strain in the metal sheet using constrained groove uniform pressing. Hence, the process is changed as the number of presses required for 1 pass are changed and named constrained groove unform pressing. C101 was used as the material for the new process. Properties of the copper sheet observed to be improved homogeneously as it was processed through the new die and process. The uniformity of the imposed strain was verified by theoretical, experimental, and simulation results.