Rolling strategies in the rolling process of GH4169 alloy with rectangle cross-section ring

Rolling strategy is the key problem in the designation of ring rolling technology, especially for the difficult to deformation materials, such as titanium alloy and superalloy, and it is also the crucial factor that influences the microstructure and dimensional accuracy of the ring. In this paper, three types of rolling strategies are designed and the corresponding radial/axial ring rolling experiments are performed employing these rolling strategies on GH4169 billets with the same dimensions. The surface temperature, radial growth rate, radial and axial rolling forces are tested and recorded during the procedure. The data are compared and the effects of rolling strategies on thermomechanical parameters and rolling kinematics of GH4169 ring are analyzed. The results indicate that the 'convex rolling strategics' can control the rolling temperature rise well and the 'concave rolling strategies' is in favor of reducing rolling the force and ensuring the dimensional accuracy of the ring. In addition, another special kind of ring rolling strategy has been mentioned in order to avoid the temperature in the corner of ring rising too much and to get a uniform microstructure.