Prediction of grain size for large-sized aluminium alloy 7050 forging during hot forming

A numerical approach for process optimization and microstructure evolution of lager-sized forging of aluminium alloy 7050 was proposed, which combined a commercial FEM code Deform 3D with empirical models. To obtain the parameters of empirical constitutive equation and dynamic recrystallization models for aluminium alloy 7050, the isothermal compression tests of 7050 samples were performed on Gleeble-1500 thermo-simulation machine in the temperature range of 250–450 °C and strain rate of 0.01–10 s−1, and the metallograph analysis of the samples were carried out on a Leica DMIRM image analyzer. The simulation results show that the dynamic recrystallization in the central area of the billet occurs more easily than that on the edge. Repetitious upsetting and stretching processes make the billet deform adequately. Among several forging processes e.g. upsetting, stretching, rounding and flatting, the stretching process is the most effective way to increase the effective strain and refine the microstructure of the billet. As the forging steps increase, the effective strain rises significantly and the average grain size reduces sharply. Recrystallized volume fractions in most parts of the final forging piece reach 100% and the average grain size reduces to 10 μm from initial value of 90 μm.