Effects of Increasing Mass Scaling in 3D Explicit Finite Element Analysis on the Wire Drawing Process

Abstract

3D explicit technique based on finite element analysis is usually applied for solving the nonlinear problems in metal forming process such as wire drawing. The mass scaling percentage that related with stable time increment has substantial influence for attaining the optimum simulation results. In this article, the drawing process of A304 stainless wire utilizing analytical and numerical approach without mass scaling was developed to estimate and validate the obtained drawing stresses using different reduction of area. Then, 3D explicit models based on finite element analysis was run using various mass scaling at the low and high reduction of area 12 and 27% for displaying the analysis time, equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ), and drawing stress. The results exposed that the appropriate increase of mass percentage corresponding to the target time increment can be selected for reducing the time of wire drawing analysis to 53 and 50% at reduction of area 12 and 27% respectively. Although the PEEQ and drawing stress had little increase when the mass percentage raises however, it should be taken into consideration through the design of the wire drawing process. Therefore; the mass scaling value must be carefully adopted.