Numerical modelling of hydrostatic microextrusion process

This work is focused on the development of a numerical model of the hydrostatic microextrusion of low carbon steel billets presenting an initial diameter of 300 micrometers and a length of 5 mm reduced to a diameter of 269 micrometers. The starting points are i) some experimental results relevant to different extrusion lengths as a consequence of different process durations and levels of hydrostatic pressure, and ii) some results obtained by the investigation on the micro wire drawing in the same operative conditions. The axisymmetric numerical models have been developed using Marc2008, assuming an elastoplastic rheological behaviour of the deformed material, according to the Hollomon constitutive model. The comparison between experimental and numerical results in terms of extrusion lengths indicates that the developed numerical model is adequate to simulate the hydrostatic microextrusion tests.