Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Feedstock Shape on Continuous Extrusion Process

Abstract

Since the appearance of the continuous extrusion process, the section shape of the feedstock is round. The shape of the feedstock directly affects metal deformation and metal flow characteristics during the continuous extrusion process. Based on finite element method (FEM), using the Deform-3D software, this paper simulates continuous extrusion forming process for copper bus bar, and analyzes the effect of different feedstock shape on metal flowing temperature, velocity, rotating torque. The results show that: the size of the rectangular feedstock must be within a reasonable range, otherwise the continuous extrusion process can not be established; the rectangular feedstock is benefit to the flow uniformity comparing with the round feedstock; the temperature of the billet and tooling with rectangular feedstock is lower than that with round feedstock, as the feedstock width increases, the temperature decreases and the area of high temperature becomes smaller; the change of the feedstock shape and size has no effect on the extrusion wheel torque value.