Computer aided design of rolls for reshaping processes from round pipes to"channel-type" pipes

The reshaping of round pipes into non-circular pipes is one of the most imp ortant processes in the tube/pipe industry. Due to recent industrial demand s, the reshaped products have to satisfy a high level of specifications wit h accuracy in dimensions and variety of cross-sectional profiles. The desig n of rolls and pass-schedules, however, are still carried out relying on in dividual empirical knowledge and judgement, with the consumption of much ti me and labor. Under a situation like this, some kind of theory, numerical m odel and simulation method, which can provide reasonable knowledge and data concerning pipes' deformations, are required for the design of rolls and p rocesses. In this study, a two-dimensional elasto-plastic analysis method i s extensively developed to investigate the deformation features of pipes' c ross-sections in reshaping processes from round pipes into non-circular pip es. It has become clear that through systematic numerical analyses of forwa rd and backward deformation based on the developed method, roll-profiles th at are suitable for making the required products, can be designed successfu lly. The developed method is usable to design rolls and pass-schedules fur various types of reshaping. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.