Metal Flow in Two-Hole Extrusion of Al-Alloys Studied by FEA with Experiments

Abstract

Forward two-hole extrusion of Al has been investigated with the purpose of studying how metal flow inside the billet is influenced by the location of the holes in the dies, i.e. whether they are position near to or far apart from each other. The study has been conducted by means of finite element analysis (FEA) using the software DEFORM 3D® and validation of simulation results are done by comparison with grid pattern experiments performed long time ago by one of the authors. The analysis shows that the experimental conditions are well reproduced by FEA. New insight into the metal flow phenomena in two-hole extrusion is also gained thanks to the analysis. It is shown, for instance, that moving the holes far apart from each other brings about a distinct shift in the metal flow. The deformations subjected to the peripheral outer shear zones of the billet material then become much more localized than when the two holes are close.