Preform design in ring rolling processes by the three-dimensional finite element method

Abstract

Perform design by the three-dimensional finite element method has been carried out for plain ring rolling and T-section profiled ring rolling. The application of the backward tracing scheme for perform design in ring rolling processes demonstrates, for the first time, the extension of the scheme into three dimensions. The preform design in plain ring rolling aims at obtaining a preform which simulates a final plain ring product with uniform axial height. Loading simulations were carried out for two progressively modified preforms derived from the result of loading simulations with a rectangular-shaped ring. Then, backward tracing was applied to obtain a final preform for the specified product configuration of uniform axial height. The preform in the T-section profiled ring rolling process was to be designed to simulate a final profiled ring product with complete filling in the groove and uniform axial height. The final preform shape for plain ring rolling was selected as a trial preform in T-section profiled ring rolling. A more satisfactory preform was obtained from the backward tracing results. It was shown by forward simulation that the final preform was good enough to satisfy the design criteria.