Open AccessCold rolling processes implemented on the periodic pilger mills with roller-type stands are widely used in pipes manufacturing.
The theoretical basics of cold rolling process are developed fully enough, thus allowing us to assess technological parameters of this process.
However, to meet high requirements for the surface quality, accuracy, and mechanical properties of the pipe material it is necessary to create new and improve available rolling techniques, optimize process parameters, select new technological lubricants, develop new materials for the rolls and mandrel.
Using the numerical analysis methods, e.g. a finite element method (FEM) can solve these problems.
In this regard, the paper presents the FEM simulation results of the cold rolling pipe process on pilger mill using the ANSYS / LS-DYNA 10.0 software.
The paper considers a coupled task of cold rolling. When solving it, along with mechanical task the transient heat transfer was solved, because heat release in the work-piece due to its plastic deformation was taken into account.
The finite element modeling results allowed us to obtain the work-piece temperature and stress-strain state data during rolling, as well as the rolling energy and power parameters.
The paper shows that despite the significant degree of metal deformation during cold rolling, there is a principle possibility to apply Lagrangian finite element meshes for modeling the similar processes provided that special finite elements and settings to exclude arising parasitic energy and large distortions of elements when solving are used.
Because the maximum temperature in the work-piece during rolling does not exceed the recrystallization temperature of steel, there is no need in using the viscoplastic materials.
The obtained results on changing the rolling force components can be advantageously used to design the working tool and change the kinematics of the rolling process in order to optimize the energy and power parameters of rolling.