Numerical simulation and experimental study on the tube sinking of a thin-walled copper tube with axially inner micro grooves by radial forging

The current work presents a simulation and experimental study on the formation characteristics of sinking thin-walled copper tube with axially inner micro grooves (TCTAIG) through radial forging. A finite element (FE) model is established. The deformation of grooves, distribution of equivalent stress and strain, and the effects of process parameters are analyzed using a FE software. Experiments with the same parameter settings are compared with the simulations. The axial elongation and radial shrinkage of TCTAIG can be obtained. The grooves are twisted as helical lines in the sinking zone. The metal flows axially and tangentially. The maximal equivalent stress and strain occur at the bottom of the grooves. The equivalent strain increases as the step increases, and finally stays at a certain value: bottom of grooves, 0.9; outer surface, 0.8; and top of teeth, 0.3. The equivalent strain becomes more uniform, the force of dies reduces, and the elongation ratio decreases with increasing feed speed. The equivalent stress, force of dies, and axial pushing force increases rapidly with increasing shrinkage rate. Apparent collapse occurs and the surface quality of the forged part becomes worse at a low feed speed or a shrinkage rate of 50%. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.