Extrusion of non-symmetric T-shaped sections, an analysis and some experiments

In the present study, previously developed analytical approach (Int. J. Mech. Sci. 42 (2000) 273), based on the upper-bound theory, for the design of three-dimensional off-centric extrusion of arbitrarily shaped dies was applied to the extrusion of T-shaped sections from initially round billets with the experimental verifications. Here, non-symmetric T-shaped sections as well as symmetric ones were considered. A computer program was written to obtain optimum die design which yield the lowest upper-bound for a given reduction in area, die length, its off-centric positioning and the frictional conditions. Computations were carried out both for the converging (ruled-surface) and the smooth curved (advanced-surface) dies. Curvature of the extruded product and simulated deforming grid pattern were also predicted. A sophisticated CAD/CAM package was used in conjunction with the CNC and EDM processes to manufacture the streamlined dies for the extrusion of T-shaped sections. The theoretical predictions were observed to be in good agreement with the experimental results. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.