Validation of a purely elastic model and a finite element model for a screw press

Abstract

The increasing use of superalloys in the industry brings new issues to forging manufacturers concerning Finite Element analysis of the forming process. Once we consider high performing materials, significant differences can occur between numerical and experimental results. The lack of knowledge about materials and thermal exchanges explains a part of these differences but it has been shown that the machine behavior has a significant impact on the forging process. Press modelling is a way to quantify the energy dissipated in the machine structure and improve simulations. This study is a first step in the screw press modelling. Starting from an approximation of the press geometries, a purely static elastic (PSE) model is developed and a numerical simulation considering only uprights is performed. Uprights stiffness predictions from the PSE model and the FE simulation are compared and the PSE model is validated. Then, the press is approximated by a portal frame and FE simulation is realized to determined uprights stiffness by considering links effects and bending behaviors in the structure. Comparison with experimental results validates the approximation.