Research on the impact of mandrels in titanium tubes during tube continuous rolling

Abstract

Tube continuous rolling (TCR) is a beneficial method for the production of titanium pipes due to its high efficiency and shorter process, with the mandrel playing a crucial role. The present study delved into the mechanism of the mandrel and its impact on the TCR process, through comprehensive analyses that included numerical simulations and experimental tests. The following conclusions were drawn: as the mandrel diameter coefficient increases, the area of the front slip zone gradually expands, and the tension changes from tensile stress to compressive stress. Additionally, the temperature exhibited an overall downward trend, while the strain distribution at the groove vertex and taper became more uneven. Concerning metallographic structure, instances where the mandrel diameter coefficient increases led to elongated, recrystallized grains at the groove vertex. The twinning quantity at the groove taper increased initially and then decreased, indicating a deformation mechanism shift from twinning to slip.

Keywords

• tube continuous rolling
• pure titanium tube
• mechanism of mandrel
• microstructure evolution