Finite Element Investigation of Friction Condition in a Backward Extrusion of Aluminum Alloy

Finite element simulations are being widely used to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of design of bulk metal forming processes. In such simulations, proper consideration of friction condition is important in obtaining reliable results. For this purpose, the shear friction factor is widely used for bulk deformation analyses. In the earlier work, it was found that a radial tip was formed on the extruded end of the workpiece and that the radial tip distance had a linear relationship with the forming load in the tip test. In order to characterize the global average shear friction factor, a linear relationship between the nondimensionalized radial tip distance and shear friction factor was numerically determined in this study for AL6061-O for various lubrication conditions. The global average friction condition at the bottom die interface was determined to be about 60 percent of the one at the punch in the backward extrusion under the present conditions.