Materials Science Forum, Vol.503-504, 201-208, 2006
Simulation of equal-channel angular extrusion pressing
Equal-channel angular (ECA) pressing is the main technique of the severe plastic deformation (SPD) method, applied for fabrication of bulk nanostructured metal materials. At the same time the practical realization of this technique is a rather challenging task. This is connected with the fact that the material during the ECA pressing is subjected to large strains under high imposed pressure at relatively low temperatures. Simulation with the help of the finite element method (FEM) or the variation-difference (VDM) method is widely applied to analyze the process of ECA pressing. A variety of as commercial as well as in-house developed programs are used by researches, when conducting this analysis. As a result the correlation between the modeling results, obtained at different laboratories as well as their adequacy, i.e. possibilities of their application for the analysis of the experimental data become topical issues. In order to find answers to the questions put by there has been performed computer simulation of 1(St) pass of ECA pressing by an example of pure copper at 4 different laboratories, engaged in SPD problems. Meanwhile, the investigators used different software packages, however, initial simulation conditions were set equal. This refers in particular to geometry sizes and the form of the die-set possessing square transverse section of the channels, as well as to the inner and outer curvature radii of the channels in the point where they intersect, and to the form and dimensions of the billet, strain rate, strain curve, isotropic model of the material. The modeling temperature was ambient. The die-set and the punch were assigned as absolutely solid non-deformable bodies. Taking into account the symmetry of the solving task, the modeling was conducted for a half of the billet, cut along the vertical plane, coming through its geometrical center. The friction coefficient was assigned equal to zero, in order to avoid influence of friction on the character of the material flow as well as not to complicate the problem at the given stage of comparison. Other modeling parameters were chosen by each researcher on his own, basing on his experience and conventional approaches to modeling. Comparison of the obtained modeling results was made by means of matching of the calculated values of the level of the accumulated strain along the bulk of the billet, pressing efforts, and the geometrical form of the billet after ECA pressing. Modeling results were compared with the results of the experimental researches.