FEM Analysis for Burring Process of Large Diameter SUS304 Tube

T paper describes a finite element method (FEM) analysis for cold burring process of large diameter SUS304 pipe. The large diameter pipes such as 216.3 mm are used for a plant as a flow channel of gas and liquid. A burring process of pipe is generally for forming the branch. Burring molding is one of the typical molding techniques for branch pipes. The burring process is achieved by drawing of die from prepared hole. And the branch pipes are generally joined by welding. However this process has some problem. First, the burring process is depending on the forming limit of pipe. Second, the wall thickness and strain distribution of formed branch edge is unequal. These problem is caused the pre-hole shape. It generally has difficulty to determine the optimum pre-hole shape. Many try and error is needed. In this study, we proposed that the method of estimation for optimum pre-hole shape of mother pipe by finite element method analysis. The nominal diameter of mother pipe is 200A. And the target nominal diameter of branch pipe is 100A. The diameter is 114.3 mm, and the wall thickness is 3.0 mm. And target burring wall height is 10 mm with uniformly wall height around the edge. The height 10 mm means that is not needed the machining after burring process and is easy to weld to join the branch pipe to mother pipe. Initial pre-hole shape of analysis model is simple circle. After FEM analysis, the height of burring position was measured. Then the diameters of longitudinal direction and circumferential direction was adjusted. After optimum diameter of both direction diameter was determined, the diameter of 45 °direction was analyzed by using point tracking function to estimate of initial optimum diameter. Eventually, the burring formed shape had an uniform 10 mm height. It was clarified that the method of estimation for optimum pre-hole was effective. Junshi Ichikawa et al., Res. Rev. J Mat. Sci. 2018, Volume 6 DOI: 10.4172/2321-6212-C3-020