Modelling Texturised Cast Structures in the Forging of Superalloys

Abstract

Abstract. The main objective of remelting processes commonly used in the production of superalloys is to obtain a columnar dendritic solidification structure throughout the whole ingot. Besides reduced microsegregation, this cast structure features a preferred orientation, which is depending on the primary dendrites' growth direction and therefore closely related to the ingot's pool shape. As a result, non-isotropic material behaviour can be observed during initial forging operations. Since the correct prediction of material flow is a prerequisite for the further analysis of forging processes by means of numerical simulation, the solidification texture's influence on plastic flow was accounted for by the application of an anisotropic material model. The model according to Barlat was used to scale the flow stress with respect to the crystal orientations observed in the examination of vacuum arc remelted alloy 718, thereby considering the flow stress' dependency on strain, strain rate and temperature. The parameters defining the material's anisotropy could be determined by the upsetting of cylindrical specimen from a remelted ingot.