Analysis of the Open Die Forging Process of the AZ91 Magnesium Alloy

Abstract

The paper presents the results of numerical modelling of the forging process of magnesium alloy ingots on a hydraulic press with the use of flat and shaped anvils. The use of shaped (rhombic-trapezoid) anvils will affect the uniform distribution of temperature and strain intensity in the entire volume of the forging, causing a number of forging passes, which in consequence will reduce the costs of the blank manufacturing process. However, higher values of the strain intensity were obtained during the deformation of the material in flat anvils. The purpose of the research was to propose assumptions for forging technology of producing a blank from AZ91 alloy with the use of flat and shaped anvils. Numerical examination for AZ91 magnesium alloy was carried out using the Forge®NxT commercial software. The rheological properties of the investigated alloy were determined on the basis of uniaxial compression tests carried out in the Gleeble 3800 metallurgical simulation system. The numerical analysis of the process of forging AZ91 alloy ingots on a press was conducted in the temperature range of 200–400 °C and at several forging passes.

Keywords

• magnesium alloy AZ91
• physical modelling
• open die forging
• flat anvils
• shaped anvils