Prediction of 3-D temperature field of TP2 copper tubes in three-roll planetary rolling process

The calculation method and three-dimensional thermo-mechanical coupling model were established for the planetary rolling process of TP2 copper tubes. The distribution rules of temperature field of TP2 copper tubes were obtained by simulation analysis. The temperature of the TP2 copper tubes increases from room temperature to about 700 degrees C in three-roll planetary rolling, which would reduce the rolling force, and improve the performance of the rolled copper tubes. The temperature of TP2 copper tubes during rolling was in good agreement with the measured results, which indicates that the finite-element method would supply important reference merit for 3-D thermo-mechanical simulation of TP2 copper tubes in the three-roll planetary rolling process. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.