A LOAD MODEL FOR CLOSED-DIE FORGING OF LONG COMPONENTS

Accurate prediction of the load in closed die forging is of great importance in considering die design and the choice of forging press in a blacksmith's workshop. A plane strain load model for the forging of long components such as crank-shafts and beams has been developed. The model is based upon the slab method and compared with an upper bound analysis. The slab method analysis makes up the basis for a user friendly, rapid PC-program which is intended to support the tool designer. The structure of the program, the input form and examples of graphical output results are presented. Forging loads which are calculated by means of the two methods differ by less than 0.1%. Theoretical results are in good agreement with experiments.