A study on seamless tube in the planetary rolling process

Abstract

In this paper, the finite element method and the dual-stream functions upper bound method are selected to analyze the tube rolling process with a planetary rolling mill. Three-dimensional elastic-plastic finite element simulations with special emphasis on the determination of the roller profile and realistic contact conditions between the rollers, workpiece and mandrel are used to reveal the deformation characteristics of seamless tube during the rolling process. In addition, the kinematically admissible velocity field of the deforming tube is described in terms of two stream functions so that the velocity components of the deforming tube can be obtained through the upper bound analysis. In both analysis methods, the equation of meshing is used to determine the contact condition between the rollers and the workpiece. The results from both methods with different variables are observed and compared. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.