Analysis of the forming process of sintered powder metals by a rigid- plastic finite-element method (Q1083274)

A finite-element method for analyzing plastic deformation of sintered powder metals is developed. To give a theoretical basis, a variational principle for rigid-plastic deformation of porous metals is derived. The effect of the change in density during plastic deformation due to expansion or contraction of the internal pores is accommodated to the rigid-plastic finite-element method. As an example of analysis, plane- strain continuous rolling of sintered powder plates is treated. The distributions of density, strain, strain rate and stress in the plate and the pressure distribution over the roll surface are calculated. It is shown that the deformation behaviour of sintered powder metals is significantly influenced by the initial density.