Direct multiscale modeling of cold pressing of metal powders

A new numerical approach is proposed to model powder pressing. It is called direct multiscale modeling. In direct multiscale modeling, each macroscopic finite element has a corresponding microstructure regarded as a powder representative cell. On the assumption that the strain rate of the macroscopic finite element and average strain rates of the representative cells are equal, the kinetics of macroscopic deformation and microscopic distortions of the representative cells is determined at every instant. The problem dealing with the effect of the initial spheroidization of intraagglomerate pores on the compaction of agglomerated powders is considered as an example. The new approach permits assessing the effect of the initial intraagglomerate pore shape on the closure kinetics of interagglomerate pores in pressing.