Uma contribuição à modelagem experimental e teórica do processo de conformação hidrostática de tubos de aço inoxidável AISI 316 L.

Abstract

A Contribution to the Experimental and Theoretical Modeling of AISI 316 L Stainless Steel Tube Hydroforming. The simulation using the finite elements method (FEM) has been of utmost importance for the tube hydroforming (THF) processes development. It reduces the try and error method in the process definition and great profits are gained. In this work, the FEM simulation together with the existing analytical THF theory in the literature was used to develop a process and a simple tool design for the THF, in open die arrangement and to be used in a common press. Gotten this tool, it was possible in a low cost, determine experimentally the forming limits, the strain paths and the evolution of geometry for a tube and then make it possible compares these experimental results with the simulated results obtained by FEM. This comparison of experimental and simulated results validated the simulation procedure and the tool design method. Relate the loads applied during the THF, two distinct load cases were possible: only pressure and simultaneous pressure and axial load, thus allowing proving the effectiveness of the second load case in obtain bigger expansion ratios. Relate to the simulations, they were run in commercial software and also the two load cases were simulated. Additionally in these simulations, two ways to apply the pressure had been evaluated. In the experiments, in the forming limits determination, the Circle Grid Analysis technique was used. A seamless stainless cold finished AISI 316 L solution annealed and quenched tube was chosen for evaluation. The tool design method, in a first attempt, uses the AISI 316 L steel properties obtained from sheets. Big differences between the FEM simulated and experimental results was gotten. Thus, it was necessary execute tensile tests in order to obtain the AISI 316 L steel properties for the seamless stainless cold finished, solution annealed condition. In such a way, a tensile tube test method called Ring Hoop Tension Test was used, to determined AISI 316 L steel properties in the transversal direction and a common tensile test was used for the longitudinal direction. Also, for both directions, anisotropy coefficients were also determined. With these new material properties set, new simulations including the anisotropy and a new improved tool design method were carried through, resulting in a new and improved tool version. Thus, new experiments were performed and compared with the new simulated results and the errors had diminished significantly. As final result, the errors in the diameter and in the thickness had been around of 10%, assuming the experimental result as standard. Relate the forming limits the results had differed, however the strain state and the strain path had been placed the same quadrant in a strain plane graphic (FLD diagram) for both load cases. Finally, relate to the tube expansion ratio, the tube external diameter increase 12,9% greater for tube expansion under pressure and axial load assuming the tube expansion under only pressure as standard.