Finite element simulation of hot spinning for GH4169 superalloy thin-walled shell

GH4169 superalloy is widely used in aviation, aerospace and other fields due to its high strength, good creep resistance and comprehensive fatigue performance and so on. Spinning which possesses good flexibility and low cost is an economic and rapid forming method for thin-walled parts of revolution, so it is quite suitable for the forming of the GH4169 superalloy thin-walled shell in this paper. Based on the finite element method, the hot spinning finite element (FE) model of GH4169 superalloy thin-walled shell was established in the present work, and the influences of process parameters such as roller feed rate and roller working radius on the forming process were investigated and these process parameters were optimized. The results show that excessive roller feed rate will lead to stress concentration at the place where the roller is in contact with the blank sheet during the forming process, and that too large or too small radius of roller fillet may cause great strain difference between the inner and outer surface of the blank. An ideal combination of process parameters is obtained with the roller feed rate of 1.33 mm/r, and the radius of roller fillet of 20 mm.