Influence of strain distribution on microstructure evolution during rod-rolling

A thermo-viscoplastic constitutive model is used in an explicit finite elem ent analysis to determine the strain distribution that develops during rod rolling. The computed strains are then used to predict the resulting grain size of the material microstructure. Predictions;are compared to experiment s conducted on rolling of square billets. There is good agreement between t he measured and predicted roll loads and torques as well as on the deformed geometry. The ability of the analysis to predict the resulting heterogeneo us microstructure is also demonstrated. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.