Coupled thermo-mechanical finite-element modelling of hot ring rolling process

A general purpose, proprietary finite-element software program, Marc/Mentat, has been used to develop a coupled thermo-mechanical model of the deformation processes occurring during the hot rolling of IN718 rings. Unique features of the model are: (1) it adopts a transient or unsteady state full ring mesh to model the deformation process and shape development; (2) the mandrel and drive rolls are modelled using fully coupled heat-transfer elements as opposed to the more traditional ‘rigid curve’ approach; (3) the model has been validated on an industrial scale using data obtained during the hot ring rolling of planar IN718 rings, and good quantitative agreement has been observed with roll load variations and surface temperature measurements obtained during the rolling operation.