Comparison of flow patterns between plasticine and aluminium alloys in hot-precision forging

Abstract

Flow patterns, folding problems and die filling in hot precision forging of aluminium alloys are simulated by physical modelling using plasticine. In order to study the reliability of the simulation, a forged product of complex geometry has been chosen. It is found that only the correct direction of the layers of the stacked plasticine blanks can have a similar folding problem as that in alloy products. The fracture mode caused by temperature rise due to plastic deformation in an aluminium workpiece cannot be found in the compression of plasticine. Because the forgeability of plasticine is much better than that of aluminium alloys, the simulation of die filling cannot provide correct information for the hot precision forging of aluminium alloys. Moreover, the surface finish in hot precision forging cannot be simulated by physical modelling. © 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.