FE Analysis of Microstructure Evolution during Ring Rolling Process of a Large-Scale Ti-6Al-4V Alloy Ring

Abstract

Microstructure evolution during ring rolling process of a large-scale Ti-6Al-4V ring was investigated with the combined approaches of three dimensional finite element method (FEM) simulation and microstructure prediction model A microstructure prediction model was established by considering the volume fractions and grain size of alpha and beta phases varying with process variables, and grain growth. In order to perform FE simulation for ring rolling process of Ti-6Al-4V alloy, a constitutive equation was generated by utilizing the flow stress data obtained from hot compression tests at different temperature and strain rate conditions The volume fraction and grain size of alpha and beta phases during ring rolling were calculated by de-coupled approach between FEM analysis and microstructure prediction model. The prediction results were compared with the experimental ones. Our proposed microstructure simulation module was useful for designing hot forming process of Ti-6Al-4V alloy