OPTIMUM DESIGN OF FORGING DIE SHAPES USING NONLINEAR FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS

An optimization method is developed for the design of intermediate die shapes needed in the plane strain and axisymmetric forging operations . The approach is based on backward deformation simulation using nonli near rigid viscoplastic finite element method and shape optimization t echniques. The advantage of this optimization approach is that it has the ability to determine the intermediate die shapes from the final pr oduct shape by applying constraints on the plastic deformation of the material. This paper presents axisymmetric disk and plane strain case studies to demonstrate the new design procedures for minimizing variat ions in deformation rates during a multistage forging operation.