Simulation of Cold Pilgering Process by a Generalized Plane Strain FEM

Harada, M
Kobe Special Tube Co.,LTD., Japan

Honda, A
Zirco Products Co., LTD., Japan

Toyoshima, S
Kobelco Research Institute, INC., Amagasaki Hyogo, Japan

(Received 18 March 2004; accepted 4 August 2004)
JOURNAL JAI
Abstract
In order to attain a defect-free operation in the cold pilgering process, one must understand the material behavior through both experimental and computational study, optimization of the tool profile (mandrel and rolls), and appropriate selection of the tool material. Until now, several simplified computational methods have been presented, because 3-dimensional analysis is still far away in such a complicated forming process. In this paper, a generalized plane strain model has been employed for the simulations of cold pilgering of fuel cladding for nuclear applications. In this model, the tube material is considered to be viscoplastic at the loading stage of pilgering and totally elastic after every stroke. Therefore, considering the tube springs back after each stroke, it can be investigated how the tube shape affects deformation in the next pilgering stroke. A cold pilgering of zirconium alloy by two types of tools has been computed and compared. Moreover, computed results are compared with experimental results. Throughout the studies, the effect of tube spring back and the effect of design parameters on the deformation behavior are demonstrated.

Keywords:
cold pilgering, computational modeling, damage, finite element method, numerical modeling, spring back, surface defects, tool design, tool optimization, Zircaloy tubing, zirconium

Paper ID: JAI12334
DOI: 10.1520/JAI12334

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Author Harada, M Affiliation Kobe Special Tube Co.,LTD., Japan Author Honda, A Affiliation Zirco Products Co., LTD., Japan Author Toyoshima, S Affiliation Kobelco Research Institute, INC., Amagasaki Hyogo, Japan Title: Simulation of Cold Pilgering Process by a Generalized Plane Strain FEM Symposium: Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: Fourteenth International Symposium, 2004-6-15
Committee: B10 on Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys