Evolution of deformation texture in cold drawing of steel tubes using EBSD analysis and FEM simulation

Abstract

Cold drawing of steel tubes is the manufacturing process characterized by anisotropic material flow during drawing. In this paper, the micro structural of the E235 steel tube after recrystallization annealing and cold drawing were characterized by optical microscopy and EBSD (Electron BackScatter Diffraction) analysis performed on a scanning electron microscope. The input feedstock after recrystallization annealing with dimensions of ø 25.0 mm × 1.5 mm (O.D × W.T.) was cold drawn in two drawing passes with fixed plug to the final dimensions of ø 18.0 mm × 0.9 mm (O.D × W.T.). The development of crystallographic texture (both qualitative and quantitative) was analysed on a longitudinal section of the tube. The stress-strain state in the tube material during drawing was calculated by FEM (Final Element Method) software and the development of the texture depending on the stress-strain state in three different directions using cylindrical coordinates with respect to the drawing direction was evaluated. We have investigated the ratio of individual crystallographic planes depending on stress state during drawn tube. The main objective was to define the development of crystallographic grain orientation from stress-strain state during cold drawn tube.