3D coupled thermomechanical FE analysis of blank size effects on radial-axial ring rolling

Radial-axial ring rolling, which is widely used to manufacture large scale seamless rings, is an advanced but complicated plastic forming technique with multiprocess factors coupling with interactive effects. During the radial-axial ring rolling process, the blank size is a decisive parameter because it influences directly the degree of deformation of the ring and the rolling parameters of the process. In this paper, the blank size design method of the radial-axial ring rolling process is first proposed, then a valid three-dimensional (3D) coupled thermomechanical FE model of the process is explored under ABAQUS software environment. Based on the valid 3D FE model, the blank size effects on radial-axial ring rolling are investigated. The research results provide valuable guidelines for blank size design and optimisation in the actual radial-axial ring rolling production.