Forging of ‘H’ sections from aluminium metal matrix composite bars, modelled using the finite element method

The drive towards increased efficiency and improved environmental performance in the automobile industry has led to a need to reduce the weight of components, without subsequent loss of strength or stiffness. This, combined with the increasing availability of low cost ceramic particulate/aluminium alloy composite materials, has stimulated an assessment of the suitability of metal matrix composites for various automobile applications. For further exploitation of these advanced materials in forged components it will be necessary to understand the differences in behaviour between these materials and the more conventional monolithic alloys used to date. The materials modelled in this paper are particulate silicon carbide/aluminium metal matrix composites (Al MMCs). In this paper we compare the results of forging trials in which A1MMC bars have been forged into ‘H’ sections with the finite element modelling of this process. This represents the first step towards the development of a fully predictive finite-element model capable of selecting the best hot working conditions needed in order to obtain the optimum materials microstructure and hence material properties.