Floros, Dimosthenis, Dr.

Due to the potential of forming induced residual stresses to influence component properties, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of residual stress generation and stability is required. Therefore, the approach to the research project is structured into the phases of component manufacturing (generation of residual stresses), component operation (residual stress stability) and process design (exploitation of residual stresses). As reference process the forward rod extrusion is used, which is established as standard process in industrial use. Due to the trend towards component materials with higher strength and corrosion resistance, two stainless steels are used in the project. The investigations include parallel experimental and numerical analyses of the process and its synthesis.

During the first phase, the necessary experimental equipment for component manufacture and testing was set up, material and friction parameters were identified, components were formed under consideration of different parameter variants and their residual stresses were determined by X-ray diffraction. In a complementary approach, macroscopic finite element models with subroutines for an extended post-processing of residual stresses were developed on the simulation side and applied in the context of numerical parameter variations. Furthermore, differential geometric and continuum mechanical relationships of residual stresses were investigated and the material modelling was extended to crystal plasticity. The predictivity of the numerical results was quantified on the basis of experimental results.

The second phase concentrates on the residual stress stability in component use and the process robustness during component manufacture. The knowledge gained will be used at the end of the second and in the third phase to specifically influence the operating behaviour and to control the cyclic strength.

The objective in the second phase is the experimental and numerical determination of the mechanical and thermal residual stress stability. As a requirement for the targeted influencing, relevant parameters will be identified. These cause-and-effect relationships are to be plausibilised by means of fundamental physical effects, whereby a recourse is made to effects described in the literature and numerical methods for the derivation of basic model ideas. Based on the experience gained so far, fluctuations of input variables and previously known disturbance variables are to be taken into account in all investigations. A further prerequisite for a systematic investigation of the fundamental mechanisms relevant to residual stresses is an increase in the numerical modeling and prediction accuracy of the deformation-induced residual stresses. In analogy to the generation phase, a constant comparison of simulation and experiment is therefore also carried out in the operating phase in the sense of an assessment of the prognosis quality of the numerical approaches and the plausibility of the experimental laboratory results.

The Project is part of the DFG priority programm SPP2013 "Targeted Use of Forming Induced Internal Stresses in Metal Components". Within the priority program, the subproject takes part in the expert groups Production technology (thick-walled) and Mechanics and simulation.

The operational behavior of steel components is significantly influenced by their residual stress state. On the basis of forward rod extrusion of stainless steel, methods for the controlled generation of residual stresses are being investigated, their stability under typical operating conditions is being analyzed and their effects on the operating behavior are being identified in this research project. In the first phase, basic mechanisms of the generation of residual stresses were identified. In the current second phase, parameters for a robust adjustment of the residual stress state during forming were developed, whereby lubrication in particular was identified as relevant. Furthermore, the influence of thermal and mechanical loads on the stability of the residual stresses in the components is being investigated.