Genetic Influences of Blank Temperature Distribution on Radial-axial Ring Rolling Deformation

Abstract

Radial-axial ring rolling is an advanced metal plastic forming technique to manufacture large size seamless rings with as-forged microstructure. The deformation degree and heat transfer condition of different blank parts are different during blank forging. As a result, the temperature distribution of blank is not uniform, which produces different genetic influences on deformation and microstructure of rolled ring in radial-axial ring rolling process. However, most present researches ignore this factor. Thus, an analog simulation method is adopted to study the genetic influences of blank temperature distribution on radial-axial ring rolling deformation. A reliable 3D coupled thermo-mechanical-micro finite element(FE) model of radial-axial ring rolling is established under SIMUFACT software environment, and six different conditions of blank temperature distribution are realized by using cooling model before ring rolling. Through simulation and analysis, the genetic influence laws of the six different blank temperature distributions on strain, temperature and grain size of rolled rings are investigated. The results show that in the case of lower temperature distribution of the blank upper and lower surface, the axial average values of strain, temperature and grain size of rolled rings are decreased respectively, the axial uniform value of strain is increased, and the axial uniform values of temperature and grain size are decreased respectively. In the case of lower temperature distribution of the blank inner and outer surface, the radial average values of strain, temperature and grain size of rolled rings are decreased respectively, the radial uniform value of strain is increased, and the radial uniform values of temperature and grain size are decreased respectively. The research results will provide a scientific guidance for reasonable control of the blank temperature distribution to improve the quality of rolled rings in actual radial-axial ring rolling process.