An experimental approach towards an equation for prediction of piercing mandrels wear

G. E. CARR; R. H. CONDE; M. D. CHAPETTI

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS PART J-JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING TRIBOLOGY

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING PUBLISHING LTD

Lugar: Salisbury; Año: 2011 vol. 225 p. 161 - 170

1350-6501

Analysis of the relationship between variables involved in wearof mandrels used for seamless tube making was carried out.Laboratory scale mandrels were pierced in sequences withdifferent process parameters. Process data were acquiredduring piercing events and digital photographs of the mandrelssilhouette were taken to study their profile evolution.Direct variables were registered and others were created.Data were first analysed in ranges of furnace temperature andcooling water flow. A self organizing map (a kind of artificialneural network) was trained with experimental data for furthermulti-variable analysis.Results were analysed from the data clusters found andconclusions were extracted.Furnace temperature and cooling water flow were importantfor their influence on wear but a definite relationship could notbe established. Results showed that the mandrel shape andwear condition could be inferred through the study of the axialforce curve.A first equation for mandrel wear prediction is introduced,taking into account the relations found between the mostimportant variables involved in the process. Nevertheless,additional research must be done considering the billetmaterial stress fields and friction contact conditions.