A finite element analysis of metal forming processes with thermomechanical coupling (Q2265856)

A finite element analysis is presented for warm forming problems. Thermomechanical coupling is included and an elastic-viscoplastic material model is used. This formulation is capable of using any of a class of combined creep-plasticity constitutive models with state variables for the description of material behavior. The specific problem considered is plane strain extrusion using the constitutive model originally proposed by \textit{E. W. Hart} [Int. J. Solids. Struct. 18, 1031-1042 (1982; Zbl 0488.73035)]. Numerical results are presented for sample problems and the important effects of extrusion speed and friction (at the die-workpiece interface) on the residual stresses and temperature fields are investigated. The computer program developed here is quite general and can be modified to analyze other manufacturing processes like rolling, sheet metal forming, etc. as well. It can also be modified to use other similar constitutive models for the description of material behavior.